Contemplation on the "World of My Own Creating": Alchemical Discourses on Nature and Creation in the Blazing World (1666)

以煉金術觀點解讀《炫麗新世界》當中的自然觀與創世情節

趙恬儀(Tien-Yi Chao)

《NTU Studies in Language and Literature》 22期 (2009/12) Pp. 57-76

https://doi.org/10.6153/2009.22.03

摘要

本論文試圖從西方煉金術的角度，解讀瑪格麗特•柯芬蒂詩的奇想故事《炫麗新世界》，關注的重心主要在於宇宙觀與創世概念等議題。儘管就文學史上的創世論述觀之，此文本並不是首開先例之作，但其創新之處，在於以煉金意象來闡釋作者的哲學思想與創作歷程等觀念。爲探討並重新評估《炫麗新世界》作品本身的複雜性、多變性與豐富性，本研究以早期現代西方煉金術作爲基礎，特別是帕拉賽瑟斯(Paracelsus)以及參帝沃吉爾斯(Sendivogius)等人的煉金論述，來解讀作品當中主人翁的自然觀以及創世的情節刻劃。研究者主張，現代讀者藉由分析此文本中的煉金意象，能夠進一步了解柯芬蒂詩創造、錘鍊筆下異想世界的心法。

關鍵字

煉金術 ； 帕拉賽瑟斯Paracelsus ； 參帝沃吉爾斯Sendivogius ； 合一思想 ； 創造 ； 瑪格麗特•柯芬蒂詩 ； 烏托邦文學

並列摘要

This paper examines Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World from an alchemical perspective, with special references to passages regarding the perception of the cosmos and the creation of immaterial worlds. Even though the text is not the first work addressing the Utopian theme, it is innovative in utilising alchemical allegories to present both the author's philosophical thoughts and the process of creative writing. In order to explore the complexity, versatility and richness of The Blazing World, my reading focuses on the Empress’s discourses on nature and the narrative surrounding her creation of worlds, while at the same time draws from early modern alchemical texts, particularly the treatises by Paracelsus and Michael Sendivogius. I argue that it is necessary for modern readers to revisit the esoteric and mystical nature of alchemical imagery, in order to develop a more profound understanding of the ways in which the Duchess of Newcastle created and refined her various imaginative worlds.

並列關鍵字

alchemy ； Paracelsus ； Michael Sendivogius ； The One ； creation ； Margaret Cavendish ； fiction ； Utopian literature

參考文獻

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Brooks-Davies, Douglas(1983).The Mercurian Monarch: Magical Politics from Spenser to Pope.Manchester Greater Manchester, Dover, N.H.:Manchester UP.

Cavendish, Margaret(1666).Observations upon Experimental Philosophy. To Which Is Added, The Description of A New Lazing World. Written by...the Duchess of Newcastle.London:A. Maxwell.

Cavendish, Margaret(1668).Ground of Natural Philosophy Divided into Thirteen Parts: With an Appendix Containing Five Parts: The Second Edition, Much Altered from the First, Which Went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions.London: