Albatross in Literature

In literature, an albatross often symbolizes a burden or a weight of guilt carried by a person, stemming from the metaphor in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." In the poem, a sailor's thoughtless act causes an albatross to be killed, bringing misfortune, and the bird's carcass becomes a inescapable symbol of guilt. The term “albatross” is now used metaphorically to describe a persistent problem or obligation that weighs heavily on someone, often hindering their progress or peace of mind.