英文摘要 |
Milton's cosmography and delineation of space in Paradise Lost have been consistently explored by scholars. Recent studies tend to focus on the demarcation of space and place, arguing that Milton retains place while responding to the rising awareness of space in the 17th- century scientific world. Following this line of thinking, this article analyzes the construction and relation of space and place in Paradise Lost. Rather than seeing Milton's space as the physical space of the universe, it argues that the infinite space Milton constructs should be understood as a spatial manifestation of God's infinity. Yet our understanding of this infinite space is conditioned by place, or by the various perspectives of the emplaced individuals (namely, Satan, Adam, and the angels). Finally, this article maintains that the delineation of space and place presents a metaphorical spatial construct mediated by human language in an attempt to visualize the invisible realm of God through limited linguistic means. |