It is also possible that Coleridge wanted the poem to appeal to every reader so he made references that were deliberately ambiguous and could appeal to both Christians and Pagans alike. It is often stated by critics that the character of the Mariner is ambiguous as Coleridge wished that every reader could relate to the character in some way and he wouldn't need interpreting for the reader. What Coleridge wished to come through, arguably, were the moral messages portrayed in the poem and by presenting individual details such as the religion and characters he may have thought that the poem would do exactly this-speak to each reader individually on a personal level.
Christine Avery describes 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' as 'an essentially Christian poem' in her article 'The Ancient Mariner-A Green Parable'. Her argument is based on Richard Holmes' views and, after exploring his views, she believes we are left with 'a key text and inspiration for Creation Spirituality'. Therefore, this text can be seen as a tool to help Christians explore the Creation story in a more spiritual way, which could account for Coleridge's multiple references to nature.
In Part the First the Mariner holds the Wedding Guest both physically, 'with his skinny hand', and spiritually, 'with his glittering eye'. This could be said to be a link with Christianity as God has links with humanity physically, in the form of his Son Jesus, and spiritually, in the form of the Holy Ghost. However, Paganism has both spiritual and physical links, but these are harder to categorise than those in Christianity where they are set out for believers.
The uncomplicated ballad form and simple rhyme scheme of the poem can be seen as supporting both Christian and Pagan traditions. Pagans are known for myths and legends passed through generations that may well have been told in the style of 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. However it has, what I believe to be, a stronger link with Christianity. This is a style that appeals to children and is almost in the style of a fairytale. Children appear to be more in touch with 'invisible natures' than adults due to their innocence and imagination and, as it seems to be Coleridge's intention to allow the reader to explore 'invisible natures' in this poem he may have thought the best way to do that is to speak to them as though they are children. Jesus often spoke about the importance of children in the Bible and told parables, which bear many similarities to this poem. They were simple stories, which would often have appealed to children, designed to communicate very important moral messages. This appears to be what Coleridge is trying to do; his moral message being the power nature has over humans who have sinned.
Coleridge used archaic and antiquated language in the poem in order to make credible the idea that it was written before his time. The phrasing of the poem often sounds Biblical, for example 'And he stoppeth one of three'. In Part the Sixth there is a line that reads as though from a Biblical parable 'Like one, that on a lonesome road'.
The ballad form of the poem gives it a very traditional, mythical feel similar to how Pagan legends and myths will have sounded. However, there is also a parallel with the psalms found in the Old Testament of the Bible and also the traditional prayers, which have been passed through generations.
One major difference in the history of Paganism and Christianity is the gender used to represent the Divine powers. In Christianity God has generally been accepted as a male presence and Jesus was the Son of God. For centuries the only people accepted as being worthy of preaching God's word were men. In Paganism Goddesses have always formed a prominent part of the religion; indeed, without them, the religion is unlikely to make sense to followers. In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner nature, when personified, is usually portrayed as male. In reference to the Sun the word 'he' is mentioned many times. This emphasis on male characters, especially powerful male characters suggest the poem is more directed towards Christianity than Paganism. The Moon is referred to as a female, but it is never given a powerful role in the poem; it appears to have a merely decorative place in the 'Rime', which doesn't correspond with the dynamic Goddesses found in Paganism.
There is one plea sent to 'Heaven's Mother' in Part the Third; this appears to be a reference to the Virgin Mary, a major figure in Christianity and particularly the Catholicism of Coleridge's period. The only other references to females in a powerful position throughout the poem are of 'Death' and 'Life in Death'. This appearance of women as being associated with Evil and death go against traditional Christian beliefs, however Pagans in the past have believed in or been associated with witchcraft involving women. Therefore, this gender reference appears more closely linked to Paganism than Christianity. However, as there are no references to women as God-like figures, and this is so important amongst Pagans, I would suggest that this portrayal of women was created from stereotypes of the time rather than any religious convictions. Certainly, if this was supposed to be a Pagan view of women by Coleridge, he appears to have failed by only referring to the Evil in them.
One of the main themes in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' that points towards Paganism are the 'slimy things' found in the sea and also the 'death fires'. These both sound either supernatural or as though they are a product of witchcraft. However, Christians also have some dreadful images of Hell in the Bible and also in myths and legends and these, sometimes grotesque, images may be referring to the Christian idea of Hell.
Part the Seventh appears to be the section of the poem most closely linked to Christianity. 'This heart within me burns' is how the Mariner describes the sensation he gets before he has told his 'ghastly tale'; the burning sensation may be a reference to the Holy Spirit, which sometimes takes the form of fire. The Mariner, like Jesus' early disciples and modern day Evangelists, has a duty to tell his story so others benefit. The Mariner also tells of his 'strange power of speech', which is likely to be a reference to the ability to talk in tongues.
The moral message of 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' also appears in Part the Seventh, it has been hinted at throughout the poem but this is where it is finally stated. 'He prayeth well, who loveth well/Both man and bird and beast.' Although this image of the whole of nature working together in harmony could point towards Pagan influences, we also see nature working in harmony at the beginning of Genesis in The Garden of Eden and Jesus often talks about the need to 'love thy neighbour' in order to reach the Kingdom of God.
The Mariner states that he knows 'the man that must hear' his tale. This suggests he has a supernatural ability to tell who will benefit from his message. Jesus often preached to the most unlikely people, those who others rejected but who he knew needed to hear his 'Good News'. The Wedding Guest was chosen by the Mariner in this same way and, as readers, we know that the Mariner had an impact on him as he became a 'sadder and wiser man'.
Coleridge himself claimed he 'did not intend for the poem to have a moral', but an unnamed critic responds by saying it is 'difficult not to find one' in Part the Seventh'. The same critic also believes Coleridge portrays a Christian message as he 'champions' the Hermit who 'does nothing but pray, practice humility before God, and openly revere God's creatures'.
A few main images throughout the poem seem to me to confirm that the poem is more Christian than Pagan. The first of these is the Albatross, who appears to be a Christ-like figure; from the 'ice splitting' with a 'thunder fit' in a similar way to the curtain in the temple splitting at Jesus' death to the way the Albatross is 'hung' around the Mariner's neck as a crucifix, this appears to be the purpose of the albatross from Coleridge's point of view. There is no one particular figure that can be singled out of Paganism in this way, as the individual believer chooses which figures are most important in their life and beliefs. Christine Avery likened the hanging of the Albatross to 'the milestone of Christian iconography'.
Part the Seventh may be interpreted as symbolising the Resurrection of Christ based on what is said earlier in the poem. Towards the end of Part the First, prior to the albatross' death, is where the 'ice splitting' reference is made and at the very end of Part the Fourth the Albatross is said to have fallen 'Like lead into the sea'. In Part the Seventh, as the poem is being drawn to a conclusion, the boat is said to 'split the bay' and the ship 'went down like lead'. This repetition of references perhaps suggest the the splitting marks both the beginning and end of a major part of the poem; the intervening period could be seen to be representing the three days Jesus lay dead before his Resurrection.
The stanza which follows the sinking of the ship in Part the Seventh refers to 'seven days'. Christians believe God created the world in seven days, therefore this may symbolise a new beginning for the Mariner just as the Resurrection of Jesus marked a new beginning for believers.
Secondly, 'Hell' is mentioned in Part the Fourth; an idea found prominently in Christianity but only in Paganism as a last resort as the majority of Pagans believe in reincarnation. The 'angels' referred to in Part the Fifth are also an idea associated with Christianity, as Pagans have Gods and Goddesses that appear to take the place of angel figures in their religion. In the same stanza as 'Hell' is referred to the Mariner also says 'Seven days, seven nights', again this could be a reference to the seven day creation in Genesis.
The part of the poem where the Mariner prays to God is crucial to the meaning of the poem. It may seem minor compared to the many references to the supernatural, in Christianity praying is the most powerful thing one can do so, for Christians, when the Mariner is able to pray in this way it guarantees he will be forgiven and is truly sorry. Praying is such a strong part of Christianity, I feel it must be significant in what Coleridge wished to present to the reader.
In conclusion, I believe this poem is aimed at giving a Christian message. However, Coleridge believed the main purpose for 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' was to speak to the reader personally, so deliberately made the characters, themes and religions involved ambiguous to a certain extent. Although the references to nature could be interpreted as Pagan, for me, the fact that God is mentioned throughout the poem suggests that nature is included to emphasise the beauty and power of God's creatures.
