Re-reading Wordsworth''s The Prelude:Nature, Self and Ch''an

• Main Authors: Liang-yuan Ko, 柯量元
• Other Authors: Yo-shan Yu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/g262b5

博士 === 國立中山大學 === 外國語文學系研究所 === 97 === The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the life of Wordsworth as presented in The Prelude through the approach of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism. Three other topics will be touched on in addition to an introduction to Ch’an: language, I and nature. Basic notions of Ch’an are introduced to form a basis for the understanding of and interpretation of later chapters. The language of Wordsworth is analyzed to show two key points: the empty essence of language and Wordsworth’s attachment to abstractions. The emptiness of abstractions in this chapter also serves as a basis for the discussions of nature in chapter four. The notion of self in The Prelude is examined in the episodes of Wordsworth’s life to see his attachments and detachments; joy and sadness. Nature is then analyzed and divided into “nature as it is” and “nature as is meant” through the examination of The Prelude. The research finds that Wordsworth’s early exposure to nature helps cultivate a much selfless “I,” which explains his devotion to the French Revolution as he pursues it for the welfare of the public. His experiences of oneness with nature helps him experience rare cases of beauty, sublimity, develop imagination, and are later used as a powerful momentum to fight the conflict and pain in life. Yet as his experiences of one with nature gradually fade away from his memories under the constant conflict of his later grown-up life, he is more and more sucked into the gyration of differentiation. The mistakening of empty abstractions for his life’s ideal gets him into the web of transcendental signifiers without any real solace. Attaching to abstractions only makes him stay away from the real and trap in the world of distinction and illusion. Only when he is back in nature and reality can he regain his pleasantness and joy.