论《教授之屋》中的地理景观

The Geographical Spectacles in The Professor's House

人文主义地理学主张通过人的意识、感知和体验来研究人地关系,并把文学中的景观视为一种主观体验的表达。本文以这一概念为视角,考察美国作家薇拉·凯瑟的代表作《教授之屋》中的地理景观书写。在凯瑟笔下,主人公圣彼得教授采用对比手法进行叙述,将方山景观和都市景观分别表现为精神家园和异化空间,并通过前者所蕴含的精神力量来消解后者所代表的压抑和异化,以保持人的精神和身份的平衡,从而为如何寻求精神自救、摆脱困境做出了有益的探索。

Humanistic geography advocates the study of man-land relationship through human＇s consciousness, perception and experience, and regards spectacles in literature as an expression of subjective experience. Taking this concept as the direction, this essay investigates the geographical spectacles in The Professor＇ s House written by American writer Willa Cather. From the perspective of Professor St. Peter, Cather displays us the Fangshan spectacle and the urban spectacle as spiritual home and alienated space respectively, and uses the spiritual power contained in the former to dispel the oppression and alienation represented by the latter. Thus, Cather seems to indicate possible ways in which humanity would seek redemption and survive plight in order to reach a balance between human spirit and identity.