Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2004. Vol. 4. Eger Journal of English Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 30)
PÉTER DOLMÁNYOS Wordsworth and the Mountains: The Crossing of the Alps and the Ascent to Snowdon
26 Péter Dolmányos contact with "the main Atlantic". The fog itself turns into landscape with "headlands, tongues, and promontory shapes", and it comes to reign over the real ocean: .. .the main Atlantic, that appeared To dwindle, and give up his majesty, Usurped upon far as the sight could reach. (513, 11. 47-49) Once again, the word "usurp" is used in a situation of crucial importance. The meaning is more palpable here than in other passages: the ocean of the fog is the usurper upon the real ocean, and the word suggests a temporary taking over of power. The sky, however, shows a difference now: there is no usurpation there, the Moon reigns supreme over the heavenly dominion. Prom that perspective the ocean of fog looks "meek and silent" but there is a "rift" that disturbs the calm surface. The rift is "[a] fixed, abysmal, gloomy, breathingplace" through which "Mounted the roar of waters, torrents, streams / Innumerable, roaring with one voice" (513, 11. 58-60). The "breathingplace" renders the ocean as a vast organism but it retains its connection with the inanimate world as well —it allows the roar of the waters to pass through. The "torrents, streams" are waters in constant movement, so Wordsworth's favourite river-image is evoked. The roar of the waters serves another purpose in the passage as well: it connects earth and sky as it is "Heard over earth and sea, in that hour, / For so it seemed, felt by the starry heavens" (513, 11. 61-62). When the vision is gone, Wordsworth sets out to interpret what he has just seen. The experience appears to him as the manifestation of the divine: There I beheld the emblem of a mind That feeds upon infinity, that broods Over the dark abyss, intent to hear Its voices issuing forth to silent light In one continuous stream; a mind sustained By recognitions of transcendent power, In sense conducting to ideal form, In soul of more than mortal privilege. (515, 11. 70-77) All these elements attributed to the 'mind' mentioned echo the qualities associated with the divine. However, some of these may be read as references to the human mind. The human mind is often seen by Wordsworth as a "dark abyss" which requires courage from the one intending to descend into it. The human mind is also capable of recognising "transcendent power", though it is true that only in certain moments. Wordsworth makes the suggestions of this passage explicit a few lines later:
