'Mariner' Summary

In “The Mariner,” E. Pauline Johnson uses the metaphor of a mariner to explore her own experience as a woman of mixed Indigenous and English heritage. The poem begins with the mariner, lost at sea, reflecting on the vastness of the ocean, a metaphor for the vastness of her own cultural heritage. The mariner longs for the familiar shores of his ancestors, a yearning that resonates with Johnson's own struggle to reconcile her Indigenous roots with the English culture she was raised in. The poem weaves together elements of nature, specifically the sea, with spiritual themes, suggesting a deep connection to the ancestral spirits and a sense of being connected to something larger than herself. The mariner's journey, both physical and metaphorical, reflects Johnson's own journey to understand and embrace her identity. The poem ultimately conveys a sense of resilience and hope, suggesting that even in the face of loss and cultural displacement, the spirit of the mariner, and the spirit of Indigenous culture, remains strong.