著者
松本 舞
出版者
一般財団法人日本英文学会
雑誌
英文学研究. 支部統合号 (ISSN:18837115)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.4, pp.393-400, 2012-01-20

The aim of this paper is to examine Henry Vaughan's use of alchemical expressions through a close reading of Silex Scintillans (1650, 1655). Considering that a Rosicrucian manifesto, The Fame and Confession of the Fraternity of R: C: of Rosie Cross, was translated by Thomas Vaughan, Henry's twin brother, in 1652, the emblem attached to the first edition of Silex Scintillans should be read in the context of the movement of the alchemical renaissance. From the viewpoint of alchemy, the flashing flint of the title-page suggests the situation of a heart of stone waiting to be softened and cleansed by the power of fire, which represents God's sword. In this paper, I will reconsider Vaughan's emblem more in detail, by examining the meaning of God's light, the silex [Philosopher's stone], tears and blood in the context of alchemical writings. First of all, this paper argues that Vaughan's expression of light can be read as a strong condemnation of the 'New Light', of which Puritan boasted. Moreover, it shows that the theory of alchemy became so widely recognized that the Philosopher's stone was described as a form of medicine. In addition, tears and blood could symbolize the 'Quintessence'. As Paracelsus had argued, 'the reason why [the] Quintessence cures all disease' is because of its 'great cleannesse and purity'. Furthermore, Paracelsus also compares Christ to the Philosopher's stone. Vaughan, too, recognizes that not only is Christ the Good Physician, he is the Good Alchemist, as well. Moreover, the poet redefines the Passion of Christ as God's Alchemy and he attempts to gain some medical benefit from it. The paper concludes that, for Vaughan, the praise of God's Alchemy is a paradoxical criticism of the actions arising from the Puritans' religious corruption.

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こんな論文どうですか? ヘンリー・ヴォーンと賢者の石(中国四国英文学研究)(松本 舞),2012 https://t.co/58NMKrbvFE The aim of this paper is to examine Henry Vaughan's…
CiNii 論文 -  ヘンリー・ヴォーンと賢者の石(中国四国英文学研究) https://t.co/MRiCKtHFBG  CiNii 論文 -  ヘンリー・ヴォーンのマグダラのマリヤ--崇められた聖人、体液としての泪の医学 https://t.co/rJcCPTgjAH

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