Marlow and the Mariner in Heart of Darkness and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner are both morally ambiguous characters with many similarities. Each embarks on a great journey during which their character is tested numerous times. Their trials lead to many profound revelations about humanity, which are explored in a way that is only possible because of their unclear morality. At the start of their adventures, Marlow and the Mariner were just sailors seeking adventure and fortune. The motivations for their actions were simple; Marlow was “lost in all the glories of exploration” (p. 13), and the Mariner was only seeking to avoid a storm. But each will be profoundly changed by their journeys, in large part because of their ambiguous morality. The gray nature of Marlow's psyche manifests itself primarily through his opinions and judgments, for example his condescending attitude towards women and his perceived connection with the natives. The Sailor's morality is obviously not purely good, since he "shot the Albatross" (l. 81-82) which had only brought him luck for no reason other than that he was jealous and 'he had the power to do it. the decisions would weigh heavily on both of them throughout their journey. Because of his rash decision, the albatross was hung around the Mariner's neck, a burden he would have to carry, along with his guilt, for a long time. To avenge the albatross, there was also the horrible duo who played for the Mariner's life - all the members of his crew, some of whom were very close to him, "fell one by one... With a dull thud, a lifeless mass” (l. 219-220), killed by Death. They too shared responsibility for the Mariner's crime, for they had tolerated his action as long as things were going well. Ma...... middle of paper ......lessons away from a work. Since all real people have both good and evil within them, at least to some extent, they can more easily identify with morally ambiguous characters like themselves. Perhaps this is why the story of the Sailor left the wedding guest "a sadder and wiser man" (l. 625) - he saw the Sailor in himself and knew that the The Sailor's story could easily have been his, had his circumstances been different. Despite their differences, Marlow and the Mariner both represent similar facets of human nature. They embark on similar journeys and ultimately share the same destiny. Each of them shares a complex moral ambiguity. It's this quality that drives many key events in Heart of Darkness and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. And it is also their moral ambiguity which allows the development of the complex revelations which make these works great...