Christabel

Christabel is a Gothic narrative poem about a maiden, Christabel, who encounters a mysterious stranger in the woods and is drawn into a supernatural mystery.

Introduction

Christabel is an incomplete narrative poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It tells the story of a young woman named Christabel who encounters a mysterious woman named Geraldine while walking in the woods. Geraldine, who appears to be in distress, is taken in by Christabel and her father Sir Leoline. As the story unfolds, it’s revealed that Geraldine is actually a supernatural being with sinister intentions.

About the Author

Early Life and Education 

S. T. Coleridge was born in 1772 in Devon, England. He was the youngest and fourteenth child of John Coleridge. A brilliant student and a philosopher, Coleridge wrote famous Literary Criticism as well as poetry. He was an avid reader from a young age and therefore he developed a deep interest in literature. He read the Bible at the age of five and later immersed himself in tales like Arabian Nights. He attended Christ’s Hospital school in London, where he befriended Charles Lamb, who later wrote about their time together in the essay Christ’s Hospital Five and Thirty Years Ago. Coleridge then went to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he met Robert Southey. Together, they conceived a plan for a utopian society called Pantisocracy, which they intended to establish in America. However, the idea was abandoned due to practical difficulties, such as transportation issues.

At one point, Coleridge joined the army, enlisting under the pseudonym “Silas Tomkyn Comberbache” in the Royal Dragoons. This experience was brief and not well-suited to his temperament, and he was soon discharged.

His Personal Struggles

Coleridge struggled with various health issues throughout his life, including bipolar disorder. He became addicted to opium, which he initially used to alleviate pain but later found difficult to quit. Despite these challenges, he continued to produce significant works, including Aids to Reflection and Table Talk, a collection of his conversational remarks and thoughts. He launched a periodical called The Friend, dedicated to exploring themes of truth and liberty.

His Literary Career

Coleridge is best known for his collaboration with William Wordsworth. Together, they published Lyrical Ballads in 1798, a collection that marked the beginning of the English Romantic movement. This book was different from the poetry of the time because it used everyday language instead of formal poetic language, focused on simple ideas rather than complex symbols, celebrated nature instead of city life, and valued emotion and imagination more than abstract concepts. The collection included Coleridge’s famous poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which showcased his interest in the supernatural and the power of the human imagination. Coleridge’s poems had a conversational style and a musical rhythm that made them less formal and more engaging. He became known for his imaginative poetry that explored the connection between the natural world and the mind. His famous poem Kubla Khan (1816), written after an opium dream, is known for its vivid and fantastical images.

He also shared volumes and collaborated with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey and Charles Lloyd. He travelled extensively in his life. He went to Germany and Italy, where he deepened his understanding of philosophy and literature. He was a member of the Lake Poets (a group of English Poets who all lived in the Lake District of England,U. K.,in the first half of the nineteenth century)

Thus, Coleridge is known for his poems like Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Kubla Khan, Christabel and Conversation Poems as well as his major critical prose work, Biographia Literaria. His critical work, especially on William Shakespeare, was highly influential. Coleridge coined many familiar words and phrases, including willing suspension of disbelief (pretending something unreal is real to enjoy a story). Coleridge ‘s work was well received by his contemporaries, and has a lasting impact on the Romantic Movement he started, on Gothic writers, and on American Transcendentalism. Coleridge died in 1834 from heart failure,and health complications likely linked to his drug use.

Historical Context

Romanticism was a reaction against Neoclassicism, which valued order, logic, and formalism, and was inspired by ancient Greek art and philosophies. It also opposed the Enlightenment, as Enlightenment thinkers viewed rationality and reason as human intellectual achievements rather than reflections of divine qualities.

Instead, Romanticism focused on nature, individual emotions, and imagination. It suggested that understanding the world comes best through emotions rather than logic. In Britain, Romanticism started around 1790 with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Romantic poets believed their art could inspire change in the world, seeing it as their responsibility.

The movement is often divided into early and late periods. Early Romantics included Coleridge, Wordsworth, and William Blake, while later Romantics included Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Keats.

A major historical event during this time was the French Revolution (1789–99), which greatly influenced Romantic thinkers. The revolution led to the end of the French monarchy and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. It started due to financial crises and demands for reform from the common people, who made up 98% of the population but had little power compared to the clergy and nobility.

The revolution led to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, promoting equality, representative governance, and free speech. These ideas appealed to British Romantics, who believed that art and imagination could reveal the true nature of the world and help improve society.

Romantics like Wordsworth believed poetry should be accessible to all, including those from rural and less privileged backgrounds. They were also influenced by Edmund Burke’s ideas of the “sublime” and “beautiful“, presented in his book A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful in 1757. In this book, Burke explained that the “sublime” in nature refers to things that are powerful and awe-inspiring, creating a sense of astonishment. On the other hand, the “beautiful” describes things that are peaceful and calming, like a gentle and safe scene.

Romantics took these concepts of the sublime and the beautiful and intentionally used them in his poetry. They wanted to capture both the powerful and awe-inspiring aspects of nature, as well as the calming and soothing ones. These concepts influenced the imagery in Romantic poetry and Gothic fiction. This approach is evident in the poems included in Lyrical Ballads.

Summary

Part 1

The poem Christabel by Samuel Taylor Coleridge begins with an eerie atmosphere, setting the scene at midnight. The castle clock strikes, the owls hoot, and the cock crows sleepily, creating an unsettling ambiance. The focus then shifts to Sir Leoline’s mastiff bitch. She howls sixteen times, signaling the hour and the quarter-hours. The speaker suggests that she might sense something troubling or ominous. He even wonders if she detects the presence of a ghost.

Then the speaker introduces Christabel, the daughter of Sir Leoline, who is praying beneath an ancient oak tree in the forest. Christabel is praying because she had dreams about her betrothed knight and is seeking divine protection for him while he is far away. She is described as a lovely and pious maiden with a delicate manner as she kneels and clasps her hands in prayer.

As she prays, Christabel hears a strange moan near the oak tree. Alarmed, she stands up and moves toward the sound, discovering a mysterious lady in distress. The lady, later introduced as Geraldine, is dressed in a white silk robe that shimmers in the moonlight. She appears vulnerable, with her neck, arms, and bare feet exposed, and her hair adorned with glittering gems. Christabel is struck by Geraldine’s beauty and the contrast between her rich attire and her forlorn state.

Geraldine explains that she was kidnapped by five warriors, bound, and placed on a white palfrey (a horse). They rode through the night until they reached the forest, where she was left under the oak tree. She expresses her fear and confusion, not knowing the identity of her captors or how long she has been in her current state. Geraldine pleads for help, and Christabel, moved by compassion, offers her aid.

Christabel brings Geraldine to the castle and assures her that her father, Sir Leoline, will protect and help her. They cross the castle moat and enter through a small gate. Christabel aids the tired Geraldine, who looks pained, over the threshold. In the castle courtyard, Christabel gives thanks to the Virgin Mary for rescuing Geraldine from danger and invites Geraldine to pray. However, Geraldine refuses, saying she is too weary (tired) to do so.

The girls continue into the silent castle, where Christabel notes that her father, Sir Leoline, is not well and may not want to be disturbed. She quietly offers Geraldine a place to rest in her own chamber for the night. As they move through the castle courtyard towards Christabel’s room, several unusual things happen. The mastiff outside makes an unexpected, angry moan, and the flickering light from the dying hearth brands suddenly brightens. The light briefly illuminates Sir Leoline’s shield, adding to the eerie feeling.

When they enter Christabel’s chamber, the eerie atmosphere continues. The room is dimly lit, with strange carvings on the walls and a silver lamp hanging from a carved angel. To help weary Geraldine, Christabel offers a medicinal wine made by her mother. Geraldine then learns that Christabel’s mother died long ago and had predicted that her spirit would stay in the castle until she hears the castle bell on Christabel’s wedding day. Geraldine becomes agitated and starts shouting to make the spirit leave.

Geraldine’s actions grow increasingly strange. She takes a drink of a special wine made by Christabel’s mother from wildflowers and then begins to undress, revealing a striking mark on her side, described as a “sight to dream of, not to tell!” This scene suggests something supernatural or otherworldly about Geraldine. Christabel, seemingly under some spell or compulsion, cannot speak or act against her.

As the two lie down to rest, Christabel prays once more. Geraldine takes this opportunity to declare her dominance, insinuating that she has cast a spell over Christabel. The poem ends with Christabel in a troubled sleep, experiencing a blend of fear and fascination, while Geraldine holds her in a seemingly protective embrace, reminiscent of a mother with her child. Geraldine’s true nature and intentions remain ambiguous, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and mystery.

Throughout Part 1, Coleridge uses rich, descriptive language and supernatural elements to build a gothic atmosphere, blending beauty with eeriness. The characters of Christabel and Geraldine are contrasted: Christabel as pure and innocent, while Geraldine is enigmatic and potentially dangerous. The narrative is filled with suspense, leaving the reader questioning Geraldine’s true identity and the nature of the spell she mentions.

Part 2

The second part of the poem starts by noting that Sir Leoline is still grieving the loss of his wife. He has ordered that the bell toll every morning, just as it did on the day she died. On this particular morning, the bell wakes Geraldine, who gets up and dresses in white silk. She greets Christabel, who notices that Geraldine looks even more beautiful. Feeling guilty, Christabel says, “I have sinned,” and prays to Jesus for forgiveness for any unknown sins. Christabel then leads Geraldine to meet her father, Sir Leoline. When Geraldine tells her story of being kidnapped, it is revealed that her father, Sir Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine, was once a close friend of Sir Leoline, but they had a falling out. This news enrages Sir Leoline, and he vows to defend Geraldine and her honour. He becomes emotional and embraces Geraldine.

However, Christabel is suddenly overwhelmed by a vision of fear and pain. She makes a hissing sound that catches her father’s attention. When he asks what’s wrong, Christabel can only say that “all will yet be well,” although the narrator notes that she was under a powerful spell and couldn’t explain further. Geraldine, speaking with apparent sorrow and grace, expresses concern that she may have offended Christabel and offers to be sent to her father immediately. But Sir Leoline refuses and instead orders Bracy, the bard, to go to Lord Roland and inform him that Geraldine is safe at Langdale Hall. Sir Leoline hopes that when they meet, he will have the chance to apologize for the harsh words he once spoke during their quarrel.

Bracy, the bard, then asks a favor of Sir Leoline. Instead of going directly to find Geraldine’s father, he wants to delay because he had a disturbing dream. In his vision, he saw a dove, which he believes represents Christabel. The dove was in distress, and upon closer inspection, he noticed a bright green snake coiled around its wings and neck. Bracy woke up in the middle of the night, and the vision is still clear in his mind. He made a vow to search the forest with his music and prayers to see if there is something “unholy” lurking there.

Sir Leoline, only half-paying attention to Bracy’s story, mistakenly believes that Geraldine is the endangered dove. He tells Geraldine that he and her father will “crush the snake!” At this moment, Geraldine looks at Christabel, and her eyes shrink into serpent-like eyes. Christabel falls into a trance, shudders, and hisses again. She then falls at her father’s feet and, invoking her mother’s memory, begs him to send Geraldine away. However, she cannot explain why because she is under the spell’s influence.

The narrator briefly pleads with Sir Leoline not to think badly of Christabel, reminding him that her mother, before she died, prayed that their child would bring him joy and pride. Despite this, Sir Leoline reacts with anger and pain. He feels dishonoured by Christabel’s reaction to Geraldine, who he sees as the wronged daughter of his friend. Ignoring Christabel’s pleas, he orders the bard to carry out his original instructions and then turns his back on his daughter as he walks away with Geraldine.

The conclusion of the second part is different from the earlier ones. Instead of recapping events, it shifts focus and tone. It begins by mentioning a “little child, a limber elf” who brings joy to a father’s eyes. It reflects on the tender relationship between a father and his child, noting that sometimes, out of deep affection, a father might say harsh words without really meaning them. The passage ends by stating that intense emotions like “rage and pain” can lead to confusion and emotional turmoil.

Themes

1. Appearance and Reality 

The theme of appearance and reality is central to the poem Christabel. This theme is primarily shown through the character of Geraldine, whose outward appearance contrasts with her true nature.

Geraldine initially appears as a vulnerable, beautiful woman who has been kidnapped and left in the forest. Coleridge introduces her as:

A damsel bright,

Drest in a silken robe of white.”

Her appearance of purity and innocence, makes Christabel feel sympathy for her. Christabel quickly brings Geraldine into her father’s castle and offers her protection and care. Geraldine’s beauty and gentle behavior make her seem like an innocent victim.

However, as the poem progresses, subtle hints reveal that Geraldine may not be as innocent as she seems. Her true nature is sinister and possibly demonic. The contrast between Geraldine’s outward appearance and her true nature is highlighted by the uneasy reactions of the natural environment and Christabel’s dog. The theme of appearance versus reality reaches its climax when Geraldine, alone with Christabel, shows her true, darker nature, that suggests she has supernatural powers and evil intentions. For instance, Geraldine’s eyes reveal a more sinister reality, contrasting sharply with her earlier innocent appearance:

Each shrunk up to a serpent’s eye, 

And with somewhat of malice, and more of dread,

At Christabel she looked askance!”

By using this theme, Coleridge highlights the limits of human perception and the risks of relying solely on appearances. Geraldine’s deceptive appearance serves as a warning that evil can disguise itself as goodness. Thus, the poem urges readers to question the difference between reality and illusion.

2. Innocence and Corruption 

The theme of innocence and corruption is explored through the characters of Christabel and Geraldine. In the poem, Christabel is depicted as pure and innocent. She is described as a “maiden mild” who prays for her “betrothed knight” and exhibits compassion towards Geraldine, a stranger she believes to be in distress. This purity is emphasized in the lines:

A little child, a limber elf,

Singing, dancing to itself.”

Here, Christabel is likened to a child, which symbolizes purity, innocence, and simplicity.

Geraldine, on the other hand, represents corruption masked by beauty and charm. Her appearance is initially captivating, which makes Christabel trust her.

Christabel’s innocence begins to erode under Geraldine’s influence. After spending the night with Geraldine, Christabel feels a sense of guilt and unease. In the dream of Bard Bracy, Christabel is symbolized as the innocent dove, while Geraldine is depicted as the corrupting snake. The image of the snake coiled around the dove suggests Geraldine’s insidious influence over Christabel, foreshadowing the corruption that she brings into Christabel’s life:

I saw a bright green snake 

Coiled around its wings and neck, 

Green as the herbs on which it couch’d, 

Close by the dove’s its head it crouch’d;”

 

3. The Role of Supernatural 

Coleridge uses the supernatural to create an atmosphere of ambiguity and unease, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural are blurred. The natural world, the behaviour of animals, and unexplained physical sensations all contribute to this eerie tone. Geraldine’s sudden appearance in the forest at midnight hints at her supernatural nature. The natural world reacts to Geraldine’s presence in a way that suggests it is disturbed by her evil nature. For example, Christabel’s dog moans in an unusual way, the dying ashes flare up briefly as Geraldine crosses them, and the ominous moaning sounds in the forest are all supernatural indications that something is amiss.

Also the spirit of Christabel’s mother appears as a protective force, watching over her daughter. Her presence suggests a supernatural connection between the living and the dead in the poem.

After spending the night with Geraldine, Christabel experiences physical and emotional pain with no clear cause. She also finds herself unable to speak out against Geraldine. It indicates that she is under a spell or supernatural influence:

The maid is mute and pale as death.

Her face doth show how much she fears.”

 

4. Parental love and Conflict 

In Christabel, Coleridge masterfully portrays the theme of parental love and the tragic conflict that arises when that love is manipulated by external forces. The love of Christabel’s mother is portrayed as a protective force that continues even after her death. Though she has passed away, her presence is felt throughout the poem, particularly in moments of crisis for Christabel. Christabel, sensing the evil in Geraldine, instinctively calls upon her mother’s spirit for protection, saying,

By my mother’s soul do I entreat

That thou this woman send away!” 

This shows how Christabel feels her mother’s love and protection even beyond the grave.

On the other hand, Sir Leoline is a loving and protective father who cares deeply for Christabel. His concern for her is clear when he immediately offers help to Geraldine after Christabel brings her to the castle. However, their close bond begins to strain under Geraldine’s influence. When Christabel senses that something is wrong with Geraldine and tries to warn her father, Sir Leoline misunderstands her and becomes angry.

He turned away with anger and disdain,

And with his eyes that look’d as fain.”

This misunderstanding creates distance between them, that shows how Geraldine’s manipulation threatens their relationship.

5. Religion

The theme of religion in Christabel is highlighted through prayers, references to saints, and the invocation of divine protection. Christabel herself is portrayed as a pious and innocent character who frequently turns to religion for comfort and guidance.

One of the first instances where religion is emphasized is when the speaker prays for the protection of Christabel:

Jesu, Maria, shield her well!”

When Christabel feels an inexplicable sense of guilt after spending the night with Geraldine, she prays for forgiveness:

He, who on the cross did groan, 

Might wash away her sins unknown.”

This plea reflects her trust in the redemptive power of Christ, seeking spiritual cleansing for sins she cannot even name.

Moreover, the appearance of Christabel’s mother’s spirit is depicted with religious overtones. Her mother’s soul is described as a protective force, watching over her from beyond the grave.This suggests that the mother’s spirit has a holy and protective role, further linking religion with the supernatural elements in the poem.