本論文透過探索<<印度之旅>>其中心意象--馬拉巴洞穴--分析並解讀此小
說所開啟繁複多元的經驗世界。形式主義和結構主義的倡導者(
formalists and structuralists)慣常探求意象在小說的結構功能。然
而,哲學詮釋學 (philosophical hermeneutics)的擁護者卻認為將作品結
構賦予固定形式並非意象最主要的功能。意象的重要性其實在於它能夠指
涉超越意符表面的意涵。這些多重的意涵常引發讀者各自體會其中奧義。
本論文首章概介哲學詮釋學就藝術作品的看法。此學派比較注重作品的意
涵而非其固定形式。它認為藝術作品可藉著意符來捕捉變幻無常的現象以
讓讀者體驗其其中的生命經驗。基於上述觀點,詮釋馬拉巴洞穴的象徵意
義可呈現活絡的經驗世界。在西方文學傳統裡,使用洞穴意象的歷史淵源
悠久。它可上溯至古希臘時期。第一章臚列了部份西方文學傳統所涵蓋的
洞穴象徵意義.第二章闡釋形式與意涵的辯證關係。第三章討衖論將馬拉
巴洞穴視為意象的緣由和策略.最後一章比較馬拉巴洞穴的象徵意義以及
西方文學傳統裡的象徵意義。這兩者間的比較辯明了`意義的歷史性'這觀
念。藉由這個觀念,我們可以跳出為意象界定特定意義的窠臼。就不同的
角色而言,馬拉巴洞穴其實是變化不定的意象。因此,透過馬拉巴洞穴這意
象可更深入了解 <<印度之旅>>所開啟的多元多意的經驗世界。

This thesis aims at analyzing and understanding the
experienceable world opened up in A Passage to India, through
the master symbol, the Marabar Caves, in the novel. Symbol is
usually categorized as the formal aspect of a novel. However,
according to the concept of symbol propagated by philosophical
hermeneutics, the importance of symbol lies more in its
capability and potentiality to point beyond itself toward a
realm of significance than its being a device to structure a
formal pattern. The thesis starts with an introduction to the
primary objective of philosophical hermeneutics in encountering
a work of art. The followers of philosophical hermeneutics are
more concerned with the meaning of a work of art rather than
its form. Philosophical hermeneutics, therefore, offers a
legitimate basis for the interpretation of the symbolic meaning
of the Marabar Caves. Chapter two illustrates the dialectical
relationship between aesthetic form and meaning. Chapter three
discusses why and how the Marabar Caves can be taken as a
symbol. Chapter four presents a detailed analysis of the major
characters' experiences of the various social structures in
Chandrapore. The last chapter offers a comparison of the
symbolic meaning of the Marabar Caves with those of the cave
symbols enumerated in the first chapter. The comparison
vindicates the notion of "historicity of meaning" and the
practicability in understanding the experienceable world opened
up in A Passage to India by interpreting the Marabar Caves as
different symbols to the various major characters.
This thesis aims at analyzing and understanding the