Christabel – Part 3: The Mystery Unfolds 

A poem by Pragati Verma

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Introduction

“Christabel” is an unfinished gothic narrative poem composed by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In the first two parts the narrative develops as follows. We are introduced with the protagonist, Christabel, a virtuous maiden. She encounters Geraldine, another beautiful maiden apparently a ‘damsel in distress’ in the woods and offers her shelter. Geraldine, who eventually turns out to be a supernatural being, casts a spell over Christabel and even captivates her father Sir Leoline with her supernatural powers. Though Christabel senses Geraldine’s evil nature but she finds herself mysteriously inhibited from revealing the truth. The poem concludes with Geraldine’s powers dominating Leoline, leaving Christabel isolated and distressed. 

My poem serves as an attempt to give Coleridge’s unfinished poem a cohesive conclusion. In my concluding “third part,” we see how pure emotions overpower evil passion. The mystery concerning the common past of Geraldine and the Knight is revealed. Christabel’s empathy and benevolent nature is evident as she sympathises with Geraldine and pleads her to undo the magic cast. Her honesty and pure emotions are rewarded at the end. These are the lines: 

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 Christabel Part 3: The Mystery Unfolds

Sir Leoline and Geraldine rode fast through the woods, 

To settle the fuss that in past stood. 

But leaving Christabel alone in home, 

Held in the wild pain in magical dome. 

Her spirit bounded by the unseen and untold, 

Something pulled her to the old oak tree where secrets unfold. 

The evil spell did break near the tree, 

Christabel woke and made herself free. 

Then a sad truth whispered in the air 

Shows Geraldine and her Knight’s past despair: 

Her father cursed their true love and their honest plea, 

So, she hanged herself from that very old oak tree. 

Christabel knew then her dark ghostly aim, 

To spoil her love for Knight and make it vain. 

Geraldine tried to hurt her purity and make it stained, 

So that Knight would leave her and break 

The wedding, which was arranged. 

She ran to father to tell him the past, 

Where she finds her dear Knight held by the same magic cast. 

And Geraldine’s father on his knees, 

Pleading to her to leave them all free. 

Inspecting love in her Knight’s eyes, 

Her angelic soul spoke to gloomy Geraldine: 

“My love for him is real and true, 

I feel your plight and wish no harm to you.” 

“Love can heal, and it can last, 

Release your hurt and make peace with your past.” 

After her pure plea, shadowy soul came at peace, 

Christabel’s Knight also woke from his long sleep. 

With the bright blue sky, and happy tears, 

They lived happily ever after for years and years. 

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Explanation

Part III of the poem begins with Sir Leoline and Geraldine on her way to meet Geraldine’s father to resolve their past conflict. Christabel remains behind in her castle, still fully bewitched by Geraldine’s dark spell. Spellbound, Christabel is strangely drawn towards ancient oak tree, where she first met Geraldine. 

On reaching the oak tree, Christabel is miraculously freed from Geraldine’s spell. A message is whispered to her soul and Christabel gains an understanding of Geraldine’s mysterious past where Geraldine and her Knight were true lovers. However, Geraldine’s father was against their love. He did not approve for their nuptial union. Devastated by this heartbreak, Geraldine committed suicide by hanging herself from the same oak tree. 

With this understanding, Christabel realizes that Geraldine’s ghost does not want Christabel to marry the Knight. Driven by her own unfulfilled love and tragic end, Geraldine’s envious spirit wants to taint Christabel, so that Knight would refuse to marry her. Christabel hastily heads towards Geraldine’s castle, where she discovers that her Knight is also possessed by Geraldine’s supernatural powers. 

She caught sight of Geraldine’s father, who was trying to persuade Geraldine to leave everyone on their own and go back. Upon discovering love for her in the Knight’s eyes, Christabel earnestly pleads Geraldine with pure emotions. Her message straight from her soul reaches Geraldine’s. Geraldine is convinced of Christabel’s true love for the Knight. She learns the divine message that true love seeks sacrifices. 

My love for him is real and true, 

I feel your plight and wish no harm to you.

Love can heal, and it can last, 

Release your hurt and make peace with your past.” 

Filled with deep compassion, Geraldine forgets the past. She releases vices off her heart and makes peace with Christabel. She gives up her malevolent envy and sets Christabel completely free from the spell. Geraldine concedes for the Knight’s marriage with Christabel. The newly married couple lives happily ever after bearing a testament to courage and the enduring power of true love that conquers all. 

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About the Author

Pragati Verma finds solace and expression by spreading her thoughts on a sheet of paper. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in English at Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India. She is a published author of a number of short stories and poems in Hindi and English.

Her writing journey is driven by a desire to explore the world with emotion, complemented by her love for art, nature, and literature. She hopes to contribute to the universal aim of creating a world of justice and peace by shedding light through stories that inspire love and compassion for all.

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