For their complicity in the Albatross's death, the crew suffers extreme dehydration, perishes, and their reanimated corpses are later used to aid the Mariner's penance. This severe retribution unfolds in distinct stages, reflecting the gravity of their collective sin.
The Immediate and Dire Consequences
Following the Mariner's act of killing the Albatross, the ship becomes unnervingly becalmed, signaling the beginning of their torment. The initial punishment for the crew is a harrowing experience of profound physical suffering:
- Extreme Dehydration: The ship is stranded without wind, leading to a desperate lack of water. The crew members become "utterly dehydrated," enduring intense thirst as a direct consequence of the cursed voyage. This physical torment is a vital part of their initial retribution.
The Ultimate Price: Death's Victory
The physical suffering soon escalates to the ultimate penalty. Their lives are wagered and lost in a supernatural encounter:
- Souls Lost to Death: In a chilling gamble between Death and Life-In-Death, Death ultimately wins the souls of the crew members. This signifies a complete loss of their existence, not just physically but spiritually.
- Mass Demise: As a result of Death's victory, the entire crew, one by one, falls dead on the ship. This widespread demise underscores the collective nature of the punishment for a collective complicity.
Post-Mortem Role in the Mariner's Penance
Even after their deaths, the crew's bodies are not allowed to rest. Their corpses play a role in the unfolding penance of the Mariner, who was the primary perpetrator:
- Eerie Reanimation: Angels eerily reanimate the Sailors' corpses. This supernatural event highlights the continued supernatural intervention in their fate, even beyond death.
- Aid in Penance: These reanimated corpses are then used to aid the Mariner in his penance. While the exact manner of their aid is mystical, it serves as a constant, haunting reminder and a symbolic burden for the Mariner's long and arduous atonement.
The table below summarizes the grim stages of punishment endured by the crew:
| Stage of Punishment | Description | Consequence for Crew |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Suffering | Ship becomes becalmed; no wind or water. | Extreme dehydration and physical agony. |
| Spiritual Condemnation | Death wins their souls in a game with Life-In-Death. | Loss of spiritual existence and life force. |
| Physical Demise | Crew members fall dead on the ship. | Mass fatality for all involved. |
| Post-Mortem Service | Corpses are eerily reanimated by angels. | Used as instruments to aid the Mariner's penance. |
This multifaceted punishment emphasizes the profound consequences of disturbing the natural order and complicity in such an act, extending beyond mere physical death to a supernatural re-purposing of their very forms.
