Since the dawn of humanity, people have acted with various intentions and various degrees of judgement. For centuries, people have considered the necessity of considering the outcomes before action. In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, Samuel Taylor Coleridge argues that one should avoid impulsive action. Similarly, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley concerns the importance of contemplating the outcomes before action. One should never act without consideration, instead avoiding impulsive behavior. Firstly, Impulsive behavior can cause feelings of regret. When the ancient mariner kills the albatross, “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About [his] neck was hung."(Coleridge 4). The albatross is symbolic of the metaphorical weight on the mariner’s …show more content…
As a result of the mariner killing the albatross, “Four times fifty living men… dropped down one by one”(Coleridge, 6). The effects of the mariner’s kill his entire crew. Just as the mariner’s crew is killed because of the mariner’s impulse, other people are also affected in Frankenstein when Victor’s machinations cause “The death of William, the execution of Justine, the murder of Clerval, and lastly of [Victor’s] wife”(Shelley 184). Victor’s impulsive reanimation of a human causes dire consequences which extends to those he loves, not only himself. In both cases, their impulses result in the death of those around them. One’s impulses can have dire consequences not just for oneself, but for those around them. It is essential to avoid impulsive decisions, as their repercussions affect one’s loved ones in addition to oneself.
It is of utmost importance to contemplate possible consequences before action. Frankenstein and “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” provide valuable insight into this issue. Their implications have become all the more relevant today, as more and more people live their lives with little regard for the repercussions of their actions. Society cannot function unless people make thought out and well-informed decisions. If constant action based solely on impulses becomes the norm, humanity will have no chance at survival.