What does it mean to be wise? Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “wise” as being “marked by deep understanding, keen discerment”. Through the telling of the ancient Mariner’s tale, the Wedding-Guest became sadder and wiser. He became sad in that he identified himself with the shallow and self-absorbed mariner. However, the mariner changed his ways. The Wedding-Guest became wise through realizing that he himself needed to alter his ways.
As the ancient Mariner described his adventures at sea to the Wedding-Guest, the Guest became saddened because he identified his own selfish ways with those of the Mariner. The mariner told the Guest that he and his ship-mates were lucky because at the beginning of their voyage they had good weather. The mariner only saw what was on the surface — he did not see the good weather as evidence that Someone was guiding them. Also, when he shot the Albatross, the Mariner did not have any reason for doing so. The Albatross did nothing wrong, yet the Mariner thought nothing of it and without thinking of the significance of the act, he killed the bird. At this, the Guest was reminded of how self-absorbed he, too, was, and the sinful nature of man. At the beginning of the poem he was very much intent on arriving at the wedding on time. He did not care at all about what it was that the Mariner had to tell him; he did not want to be detained even if the Mariner was in trouble. Instead, he spoke rudely to the mariner, calling him a “gray-beard loon”, and tried to go on his own way.
The Mariner began to see his own sinfulness and change his ways. As the Wedding-Guest listened to the story of the Mariner, the Mariner told him of…
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…r his ways. He was wise in that he listened to all that the Mariner told him and discerned what was being said — that you need to be repentant for sins before a change can take place. If only the Wedding-Guest had learned this lesson a bit sooner, he might have lived his life differently in the past and, perhaps, that is what contributed to saddening him, making him realize that he could have done much more significant things for God. Nevertheless, he will heed the teaching of the Mariner and there is hope that he will do great things in the future.
We all sometimes get caught up in the things of this world and become absorbed in our own selves, and it is in these times that we, like the Wedding-Guest, need to hear the Rime of the Ancient Mariner to remind us of our sinful ways so that we can change and focus on the significant things that we can do for God.
Use of Opinions, Voices, and Actions in Maria Concepcion
Use of Opinions, Voices, and Actions in Maria Concepcion
“María Concepción did not weep when Juan left her; and when the baby was born, and died within four days, she did not weep” (Porter 144). Katherine Anne Porter’s used various writing techniques to develop María Concepción as a round and dynamic character. These methods included the discussion of María’s actions, her speech, and by telling what other characters think about María. As a round character María Concepción expressed contradictory attitudes, and diverse personality traits. María Concepción could also be described as an unpredictable or dynamic character. She was at times a devoted, religious, and hard-working woman, but certain events caused her to exhibit contrasting traits such as envy, detachment, and fury. Porter’s use of multiple styles of writing allows the reader to fully comprehend María Concepción’s transformation.
Porter develops María Concepción into a round character by contrasting her attitude in the first part of the story to that the end of the story. María’s transformation from a passive, laborious, and religious woman into a hateful, revenge oriented, and dominant woman becomes obvious through her actions. Her daily routine includes carrying “about a dozen living fowls, [and a] food basket to the market” (Porter 140-141). María was silent when she saw her husband run off with another woman. She “did not stir nor breathe for some seconds,” instead she watched from a distance (Porter 142). María Concepción’s religious faith was one of her stronger traits. “She was a good Christian. She had paid for the license which permits people to be married in the church. She had given money to the priest before she and Juan …
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… she has had her share of troubles'” (Porter 144). Givens, another character, warned Juan not to mess with María because she was more spontaneous and determined than before he had left with María Rosa. “‘Let me tell you, Juan, things haven’t been going as well as you think. You be careful. Some day María Concepción will just take your head off with that carving knife of hers, You keep that in mind'” (Porter 146).
María Concepción’s entire transformation, from a passive to an assertive individual, is reinforced by Porter’s manipulation of characters. The use of opinions, different voices, and actions by all characters allows the reader to experience the emotional tug and pull of María Concepción’s alterations. Through these various writing techniques, Porter illustrates María Concepción’s various attitudes which expresses her round and dynamic nature.