SHIP ADVANCES AT UNCANNY SPEEDS
Or Does It?
Delirium and Death
Wind seemed to be nonexistent and the ship came to a complete and never-ending stop on the open sea. Yet according to The Ancient Mariner it continues to sail? Lack of water clearly resulted in the complete derangement of the men because the ship is said to have moved on its own. After an expedition gone wrong and thirst bringing lives to a desperate and tragic end, the captain saw a ship in the distance. There is evidence of a wound slashed across the captain's forearm, and he gives narration to the legitimate drinking of his blood. He does this in order to moisten his mouth and strengthen his once dry and cracked voice. He then shouted out to the ship in the distance to change its course to save his poor crew. After seeing a mysterious ship that is of no help and most likely a hallucination of resulting in his deadly thirst, the captain aroused from a trance like sleep.
He glanced around the ships deck only to be met with "stony eyes" reflecting the moon's "glitter." According to the The Ancient Mariner, a slaughterhouse would be a more appropriate place for the mass of death the bodies gave way to. The curse that seemed to be upon the sailors had not yet passed away and he was left staring into their glazed over eyes. Suddenly, the curse seemed to break and colors could be seen once more in the once deadly haze. The ocean looked green and extravagant as it had once before. He relayed that he did not turn back and look behind in fear that the horrors of his recent past would be upon him again.
The wind picked up one last time and felt sweet and welcoming to take him home once more.
The Ancient Mariner seemed troubled and filled with anxiety when interviewed about his perilous journey. The tale told above cannot be verified as truth, yet the captain seemed very sure of himself. The question we must ask ourselves is the following: does death and delirium lead to loss of mind and perhaps insanity and madness?