A leader of the British Romantic movement, along with William Wordsworth, Coleridge was meant to join the clergy according to his father’s wish. But the great God wanted his literary talents to be exhibited instead.
Born in Devonshire, England, Coleridge is today a well known poet. But the plans he made for life initially were anything but poetic or romantic. A friendship in his youth with another burgeoning poet, Robert Southey, made both of them choose controversial paths. Some vague following of Unitarian beliefs, accumulating debts, influence of Plato's Republic, wanting to form a pantisocracy (equal government by all) and sharing philosophical discussions.
Both Coleridge and Southey got married to their respective female partners. But marriage and warm homes couldn't settle the deep minds down. They collaborated on a play titled The Fall of Robespierre (1795).
Later on, a friendship with William Wordsworth was again an influence - this time more fruitful and less controversial.
In 1796, Coleridge published his first volume of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, and began the first of ten issues of a liberal political publication entitled The Watchman. In 1798 Wordsworth and Coleridge collaborated on a joint volume of poetry entitled Lyrical Ballads. The collection is considered the first great work of the Romantic school of poetry and contains Coleridge's famous poem, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
Over the next two decades Coleridge lectured in colleges and universities on literature and philosophy, wrote about religious and political theory. Most of his later years were a dependency on accumulating debts and opium. Even then, the master of lyrical prose, published poetry and prose, notably Sibylline Leaves (1817), Aids to Reflection (1825), and Church and State (1830). He died in London on July 25, 1834.
Christabel is a long narrative ballad by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in two parts. The first part was reputedly written in 1797, and the second in 1800. Considered partly romantic and partly sexual, the poem shows the relationship of Geraldine and Christabel.
A young lady named Christabel is an innocent, young, and virtuous daughter of Sir Leoline. One day while praying for her fiance, she meets a stranger called Geraldine. She claims to have been kidnapped from her home by a band of rough men.
She also claims to be the daughter of Lord Roland de Vaux, once a friend of Sir Leoline. The two men had quarrelled, and had not spoken for years. Christabel, being innocent, becomes sympathetic to the plight of the other girl and invites her home. Once in the bedroom, the dubious guest puts a spell on poor, innocent Christabel that makes it impossible for Christabel to tell anyone about what had happened that night in the bed.
In reality, however, she is a wicked paranormal woman disguised as Geraldine. Christabel later finds out about her deception, but is forced into silence by that black magic. When she finally breaks the spell and speaks about Geraldine’s deception, Sir Leoline rejects her entreaty, and the long narrative poem ends with Sir Leoline sending a message telling Lord Roland that his daughter is safe and offering reunion. Awkwardly, before any confirmation on Geraldine' identity can be established or denied, the poem ends abruptly.
The themes explored in Christabel are of various parameters. Sin versus religiosity, evil versus innocence and sexuality versus purity. In this poem, the central character Christabel represents purity, religiosity and innocence whereas Geraldine symbolises evil, sin and sexuality. The poem starts with Christabel praying, that too in deep dark woods and for not herself but for her fiance. In many religious philosophies, the devil is known to attack and tempt its victim, often when they are praying.
Imagery in the poem shows the many themes discussed above - the carving of an angel, setting of medieval English castle, ‘forty beads must tell’ which are prayer beads. Also the tone of suspense is all over the poem - starting with - ‘Tis the middle of night by the castle clock,
And the owls have awakened
The night is chilly, but not dark.
The thin gray cloud is spread on high,
And tricks her hair in lovely plight,
And nothing doubting of her spell
Awakens the lady Christabel.
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