A Hylozoic Reading of Jewett's "A White Heron"

茱愛特＜白蒼鷺＞中的物活解讀

羅宜柔(Yi-Jou Lo)

《SPECTRUM ： NCUE Studies in Language, Literature, Translation》 6期 (2010/01) Pp. 71-86

https://doi.org/10.29601/YYWYLL.201001.0004

摘要

Hylozoism is combined with hyle (materials; matters) and zoe (life). It has been theorized since the ancient Grecian time during which hylozoism has been interpreted that all matters/things/beings are enlivened and the life force can be traced from the being him/her/itself. In ”A Winter Drive,” Sarah Orne Jewett points out, ”There was an old doctrine called Hylozoism, …, the theory of the soul of the world, of a life residing in nature, and that all matter lives; the doctrine that life and matter are inseparable” (168). It seems that hylozoism is established as a mediator between human and non-human worlds. Nevertheless, hylozoism also connotes paradoxically that the separation may bring out harmony instead of conflict. Apparently, if hylozoism is classified into the binary oppositional system, it stands out uniquely and differentiatedly in the system.This paper intends to re-read a famous short story, ”A White Heron” by Jewett in terms of her definition of hylozoism. The paper investigates how Jewett helps the character, Sylvia, listen carefully to all beings on earth with the light of a ”primordial language” and a ”meditative openness.” The paper argues that how hylozoism distinguishes Jewett's writing from symbolic discourse in Romantic writers as William Wordsworth. The paper concludes that Jewett removes the symbolic restraint, and reveals the true mien of beings. By means of such semi- or anti-BOs (binary oppositions), Jewett, thus, saunters within the antithetic but not defiant nature landscape.

關鍵字

物活主義 ； ＜白蒼鷺＞ ； 原初語言

並列摘要

Hylozoism is combined with hyle (materials; matters) and zoe (life). It has been theorized since the ancient Grecian time during which hylozoism has been interpreted that all matters/things/beings are enlivened and the life force can be traced from the being him/her/itself. In ”A Winter Drive,” Sarah Orne Jewett points out, ”There was an old doctrine called Hylozoism, …, the theory of the soul of the world, of a life residing in nature, and that all matter lives; the doctrine that life and matter are inseparable” (168). It seems that hylozoism is established as a mediator between human and non-human worlds. Nevertheless, hylozoism also connotes paradoxically that the separation may bring out harmony instead of conflict. Apparently, if hylozoism is classified into the binary oppositional system, it stands out uniquely and differentiatedly in the system.This paper intends to re-read a famous short story, ”A White Heron” by Jewett in terms of her definition of hylozoism. The paper investigates how Jewett helps the character, Sylvia, listen carefully to all beings on earth with the light of a ”primordial language” and a ”meditative openness.” The paper argues that how hylozoism distinguishes Jewett's writing from symbolic discourse in Romantic writers as William Wordsworth. The paper concludes that Jewett removes the symbolic restraint, and reveals the true mien of beings. By means of such semi- or anti-BOs (binary oppositions), Jewett, thus, saunters within the antithetic but not defiant nature landscape.

並列關鍵字

Hylozoism ； "A White Heron" ； Primordial Language