“Christabel” is a juxtaposition of characters and gender roles of which are at play. Christabel is motherless at birth and represents the common downfall of females that have little to no support and are eager to obey. Christabel prays in the woods in relation to the dream she had the night before about marriage, during her ritual Geraldine intervenes by asking for her aid. Geraldine is the daughter of a nobleman and a victim of kidnapping coincidentally situated where Christabel was praying. This brings all of Christabel’s attention to escorting Geraldine back to her home.

Geraldine spends the night in Christabel’s night and both individuals spend time discussing their personal backgrounds. Christabel reveals to Geraldine the death of her mother at birth as Geraldine sympathizes and wishes her mother was here now too. Geraldine uses this moment to infiltrate the emotions of Christabel and asserts her that her prayers will repay the kindness that was shown to her. As Christabel undressed and  readys herself to sleep although she is unsuccessful due to worries about Geraldine. It’s as if a supernatural spell was put onto Christabel to accept Geraldine’s presence. Later in the morning Sir Leoline the widower, is introduced to Geraldine. In fact Sir Leoline was close aquantices with “Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine” who is the father to Geraldine. Although the boyhood friendship didn’t end in good terms this opportunity to aid Geraldine was the perfect opportunity to mend it. Geraldine asks to be escorted back to her home although this becomes a dilemma as “Bracy” the bard has dreams of Christabel as a bird being strangled by a green snake. Sir Leoline chooses to disobey his own daughter’s wishes in order to execute the wishes of Geraldine, an individual who he has just met.

Coleridge’s main theme of this play explores the vulnerability of motherless women. The author was able to bring light to the life of females that he encountered during his period. If we recall Wollstonecrafts “Vindication of the Rights of Women” we explore a similar theme of women at a young age treated superficially and were taught to accept a man made hierarchy between males and females. Although, the power of “reason” is what creates us equal in the ability to decide what is best for our own self interests. Why do women have to prove their capabilities in this era? Do the insecurities of men encourage their defiance against feminism? These are still relevant questions society is trying to comprehend. Another motif Coleridge explores is the supernatural realm, particulary in reference to Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and the story of Adam and Eve. Geraldine puts Christabel under a spell the first night of their encounter with  sinful intent. Whilst Geraldine is amist her prayers the two see eachother naked and sleep in the same bed, this causes us to question the corruptiveness qualities attached to Geraldine. She continues to persuade Christabel in believing that a spell is in control of her, the reader may infer that this evil spirit is possibly Geraldine. After Christabel introduces Geraldine to her father, Sir Leoline is asked to escort Geraldine back home on the very day Bracy the bard dreamed of Christabel’s own demise. A vision so vivid of her as an “ailing bird” being strangled by a serpent just as in Milton’s “Paradise Lost.’

Sir Leoline is conflicted in deciding to help his own daughter or agree to the wishes of Geraldine. Leoline’s decision to nullify his daughter’s decision represents the threat of a charming lady such as Geraldine in the presence of a widower. Coleridge is pointing readers to question the roles of women in society and “fear” their power over decision making. The supernatural is a reacurring theme in “Christabel” and more specifically witch like qualities that Geraldine posseses can suggest that Christabel may just be dreaming of this figure. The “fall of grace” in Adam and Eve can be correlated as to when Christabel is praying in the woods. She tends to Geraldine as she stands helpless in the “Garden of Eden” enabling her to deceive Christabel with a false disguise of purity.  

Anya Taylor focuses on the vulnerability of both characters especially at the beginning of their interactions (Page 712.)”It is certainly true that Christabel assertively wills her own adventure up to line 230. She leaves the castle at midnight of her own will. She is not prevented by guards or nurses from leaving the walls and going alone into a deep forest. She is left alone to do as she wishes; no one notices her absence or cares for her, despite the tag “whom her father loves so well” (line 24). As Christabel is seen praying for the knight of her dreams we acknowledge further her sense of loneliness. Mixed with the sudden fasle presence of purity and helplessness (Geraldine) a disaster was bound to occur. Anya Taylor mentions that Coleridge’s attempt to progress the feminist movement may not be his only motive but to provide readers with a “thought experiment” [Page 708] enabling numerous theories to be viable. Anya states on [Page 708], “The poem narrates incidents in the emotional life of a young woman; it shows her acting and being acted upon; its segments— written at different times—circle backwards to address questions that had been left unanswered. The poem, part of Coleridge’s lifelong meditation on the vulnerabilities of will and agency, is in many ways a female version of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

1. Do you think feminism is the sole theme of Christabel? Or are there several motifs to explore?
2. Are the works of Coleridge and that of Wollstonecraft’s relatable?
3. What do you think helped influenced Sir Leoline’s decision to betray his own daughter?