Mania And Revelation

Samuel Taylor Coleridge is not only the representative of the Lake Poets during the Romantic period,but also the most influential literary critic,thinker and theologian in the 19^th century.Imagination,as the core concept of Coleridge’s poetic theory and literary criticism,has profound philosophical and theological implications,and therefore occupies an important position in the modern Western thought.However,the overall dominance of rationalism and empirical philosophy since the 17^th century resulted in the decline of Imagination in poetry,philosophy and theology.Although Kant’s theory of Imagination has affirmed that human mind is transcendental and not merely a tabula rasa,it essentially regards Imagination as a purely intellectual ability.The active concern for the artistic and religious functions of Imagination encourages Coleridge to return to the classical and medieval traditions so as to redefine the concept of Imagination.The Platonic doctrines of Mania and Recollection supply Coleridge’s conception of Genius with an imaginative scheme of intellectual growth,through which the mind’s latent faculty is awakened.Imagination is then developed into a creative and self-sufficing faulty,and ultimately avails Genius to achieve the highest state of Idea,as well as to recreate a new organic unity.Moreover,Plotinus’notion of the One overcomes the dilemma between the subject and the object,which inspires Coleridge to view Imagination as an unified intelligent faculty.Plotinus’twofold interpretation of Imagination even renders possibility to the dynamic interaction between the material and the spiritual.Coleridge therefore further divides Imagination into the primary one and the secondary one.These two types of Imagination both possess the power of reconciliation,dominate all the other mental abilities,and even make spiritual beliefs possible.Last but not least,Coleridge’s reflection of the relationship between Imagination and divine vision is ultimately shaped by Dante’s unification of verse and doctrine.Through the allegorical description of the pilgrim’s three visionary dreams in the Purgatorio,Dante incorporates religious revelation into poetic Imagination,and highlights the visionary Imagination in the context of Christianity.Coleridge further points out that Imagination is essentially an act of faith.It aims to imitate the higher essence of existence so as to enable the finite mind to reproduce the infinite divine facts.Coleridge also applies his understanding of Imagination to his poetic practice.“Kula Khan”confirms that the divine inspiration of poetic creation comes from the creative and self-sufficing power of absolute genius.It is through genius that Imagination exerts its power of reconciliation to form an organic unity.“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”fuses the theme of sacramental vision and the theme of Imagination,which embodies Coleridge’s idea of conveying divine revelation through poetry and highlights the sacred connotations of Imagination.Originating from the Platonic and medieval traditions,Coleridge’s Imagination Theory has largely expanded the scope of Imagination in freeing it from the shackles of empiricism.Imagination,therefore,on the one hand,enables the finite human mind to participate in the transcendental truth;on the other hand,it helps retain God’s Word in the poetic language.