‘Gothic Literature Demonstrates the Consequences of Disrupting the Natural Order of Things' to What Extent Do You Agree with This?

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Gothic literature does demonstrate the consequences of a disruption in the natural order, gothic literature is a representation of society in its time, each novel raises issues and their consequences in order to advise and educate its readers against the actions the protagonists take. In Samuel Coleridge’s ‘Rime of the ancient mariner’ the mariner’s actions against nature, with religion/nature being the natural order in society as religion centres itself around the confession of sins done by men or women, the mariner is seen to be punished for his actions, deemed wrong in its time.. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" helps implement all this cycle with the murder of the albatross and how he must pay for his actions. In Coleridge’s poem, the mariner’s crime against nature: the shooting of the albatross disrupts the natural order the consequence of this action is nature begins to start the punishment the mariner for his crimes with, "Water, water, everywhere nor any drop to drink." He is punished harshly for killing the symbol of nature that everyone reveres. He is beaten down by the sun with its rays and is taunted by the endless sight of water that he cannot drink. Nature is the force in this poem that has power to decide what is right or wrong and how to deal with the actions. The natural order is replaced when the mariner reconciles his sins and realizes what nature really is and what it means to him. On the other hand this poem could be Coleridge mocking the crime and reprobation system in place, because although the mariner is punished this is short lived. The mariner accepts his punishment and lives on with only the slight burden of telling a story rather than facing death. If people will realize their wrongs and try to correct them like the mariner life will be more peaceful and many will have a higher quality of life. So with the punishment not lasting all

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