The Sailors in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" are Fickle Minded

The poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge depicts the journey of a ship and its crew through various supernatural encounters. The sailors in the poem are portrayed as fickle-minded individuals who constantly change their attitudes and beliefs. This can be justified through several instances in the poem:

1. Changing Perception of the Mariner
- Initially, the sailors view the Mariner as a wise and experienced individual, as they listen attentively to his storytelling. However, their perception changes dramatically after the Mariner kills the albatross.
- The sailors quickly turn against the Mariner, blaming him for their dire circumstances and death of their crewmates. Their fickle nature is evident as they immediately shift from admiration to condemnation.

2. Superstitious Beliefs
- The sailors are portrayed as superstitious and easily swayed by their beliefs. They attribute the bad luck of the ship to the killing of the albatross, considering it a curse.
- When the weather improves after the Mariner's penance, the sailors quickly switch their beliefs, considering him blessed instead. This sudden change in perception reflects their fickle-mindedness.

3. Changing Reactions to Supernatural Encounters
- Throughout the poem, the sailors encounter various supernatural phenomena, including the ghostly figures of Death and Life-in-Death. Their reactions to these encounters vary greatly.
- Initially, the sailors are terrified and pray for deliverance. However, when the ghostly figures gamble for their lives and the Mariner wins, the sailors rejoice and change their perception once again.
- This inconsistency in their reactions highlights their fickle-mindedness and lack of a steadfast character.

4. Inability to Learn from Experience
- Despite witnessing the gruesome consequences of their fickle-mindedness, such as the deaths of their crewmates, the sailors fail to learn from their mistakes.
- They continue to vacillate between fear and jubilation, never settling on a consistent attitude, even when faced with overwhelming evidence of the Mariner's warnings.

In conclusion, the sailors in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" can be considered fickle-minded due to their ever-changing perceptions, superstitious beliefs, varying reactions to supernatural encounters, and their inability to learn from past experiences. Their inconsistent behavior throughout the poem reflects their lack of steadfastness and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of such fickleness.