as remained common throughout the poem is that of the religious symbolism present. Especially that of Christ and his ability to save, which was present throughout this poem. The symbolism is that of the albatross. The albatross saves the Mariner for bad weather and keeps the sailors in good health just as Christ healed and kept His people from evil. Coleridge writes that a spirit similar to God, "loved the bird that loved the man who shot him with his bow"(p.1498). Those lines are an analogy with God who loved his son who loved the men that killed Him. The Mariner is shown as the people how turned from Christ and killed Him even though Jesus continued to love them. Coleridge also has the Mariner hang the albatross around his neck like a crucifix. The "crossbow" used to kill the albatross symbolizes the "cross" on which Jesus was nailed. Coleridge uses the albatross to symbolize Christ and the Mariner is the example of man losing faith and struggling to regain his faith in God. Coleridge uses the albatross as an example of a savior in the same way that Swift uses Pedro de Mendez as a savior to Gulliver."Gulliver's Travels", written by Swift, shows us that man is naturally inclined toward evil, yet his own reason can bring him to a knowledge of moral truth. The connection of the fourth voyage to this theory is obvious. The Yahoos symbolize man as the hopeless sinner. The Houyhnhnms symbolize man, directed by reason, into the path of righteousness and God. Gulliver tries to become a Houyhnhnm but they cannot reason that he has the ability to be the same. Gulliver doesn't realize that reason isn't the only way to God until he meets Pedro de Mendez. Mendez represents Christ in that he saves Gulliver and takes him in to feed, clothe, and provide a place for Gulliver to rest. Mendez treats Gulliver as an equal even though Gulliver treats Mendez as a lesser Yahoo, as Christ loved all even those who betrayed Him. Swift shows how...
