Christabel

2 Pages 460 Words

I think the two transgressions that Christabel performed was that of shame and jealousy. In the first part’s conclusion Coleridge describes Christabel as she comes out of the orgasmic gaze. He describes her as crying and smiling at the same time and then finally resting like a playful kid.
In the second part of the poem, Sir Leoline is presented to Geraldine and he finds out that she is his once best friend’s daughter. Sir Leoline is so excited to see her that he embrace’s her and Christabel gets extremely jealous, the second transgression. She’s so jealous that she hisses like a snake. She now becomes the snake and Geraldine becomes the dove. Sir leoline orders Barcy the Bard to take Geraldine home and he vows that he will kill the traitor that harmed Geraldine. Both ladies are startled by this revelation, but continue on with Barcy the Bard.
As they continue the journey, Sir Leoline listens to the dream and finally realizes that his daughter and Christabel have had intimate relations and he becomes furious and sorrowful at the same time. I wonder if Sir Leoline’s old friend set this whole thing up just to get back at Sir Leoline for something he did. The poem never tells us what happened that broke the two of them up, only that the relationship ceased. Also, during this incident of discovery, Coleridge describes both women as reptiles. Coleridge’s constant description of the reptile, the dog at the front door, the supernatural being is Gothic but not scary. It’s dark, but not gory. I like how he chooses the right animal or description of buildings, like the castle. The feel of the poem is mysterious and mystical. They both became snakes when they noticed Sir Leoline looking at them with disgust. And they showed no shame or guilt of their encounter. It appeared that they were just amazed and astonished at being caught. Maybe they wanted to continue the affair. Or take the secret to their grave.
Sir Leoline, impulsive...