John Milton: A John Milton: A Revolutionary PoetRevolutionary Poet

Dr. Alan HaffaDr. Alan Haffa

Please Silence Cell PhonesPlease Silence Cell Phones

Biography Biography 1608-16741608-1674

Cambridge: ClassicsCambridge: Classics Became a Puritan: Became a Puritan:

opposed Catholics as opposed Catholics as well as Stuartswell as Stuarts

Latin Secretary to the Latin Secretary to the Commonwealth Commonwealth Government & Government & Protectorate Protectorate

Imprisoned during Imprisoned during Restoration Restoration

Published Published Paradise Lost Paradise Lost 16671667

Classical Epic and Christian Classical Epic and Christian EpicEpic

Homer’s Achilles Homer’s Achilles and Odysseus and Odysseus are modelsare models

Individualistic Individualistic HeroHero

ProudProud WarlikeWarlike

Problem: How to Problem: How to reconcile warrior reconcile warrior ethic and ethic and individualism of individualism of classical hero classical hero with Christian with Christian values?values?

ObedienceObedience

Tradition of Christian EpicTradition of Christian Epic Romance Epic: Ariosto’s Romance Epic: Ariosto’s Orlando FuriosoOrlando Furioso

—Mad Orlando; imaginary Christian and —Mad Orlando; imaginary Christian and Muslim KnightsMuslim Knights

Historical: Tasso’s Historical: Tasso’s Gerusalemme LiberataGerusalemme Liberata——Jerusalem Delivered; First CrusdadeJerusalem Delivered; First Crusdade

Christian Allegory: Edmund Spenser’s Christian Allegory: Edmund Spenser’s Faerie QueeneFaerie Queene; Allegory for Christian ; Allegory for Christian Virtues and Queen ElizabethVirtues and Queen Elizabeth

Choosing an Explicitly Biblical topic was Choosing an Explicitly Biblical topic was riskyrisky

Thematic OverviewThematic Overview Plot: Based on the Fall of Man in Plot: Based on the Fall of Man in GenesisGenesis Satan is cast into Hell; He continues to Satan is cast into Hell; He continues to

disobey and is eternally out cast.disobey and is eternally out cast. Adam, though disobedient, after Adam, though disobedient, after

suffering Penance, can be redeemedsuffering Penance, can be redeemed Obedience to the Will of God is the Obedience to the Will of God is the

primary valueprimary value How to turn a Tragic Story into an Epic?How to turn a Tragic Story into an Epic? Adam and Eve RedeemedAdam and Eve Redeemed

Hierarchy and GraceHierarchy and Grace

There is a spatial hierarchy that reflects There is a spatial hierarchy that reflects a political onea political one

Heaven: God and AngelsHeaven: God and Angels Earth: mankind (Man/Woman)Earth: mankind (Man/Woman) Hell: Fallen Angels and DamnedHell: Fallen Angels and Damned Interestingly, Satan, Adam and Eve are Interestingly, Satan, Adam and Eve are

all rebels to this hierarchyall rebels to this hierarchy But Adam and Eve ultimately submit; But Adam and Eve ultimately submit;

and, they suffer because they rebelled.and, they suffer because they rebelled.

Satan as HeroSatan as Hero William Blake and William Blake and

Percy Shelley first to Percy Shelley first to Heroize Satan; “of Heroize Satan; “of the Devil’s party the Devil’s party without knowing it.” without knowing it.”

Satan as an AchillesSatan as an Achilles Proud; Willful; Proud; Willful;

IndependentIndependent

Satan as Classical HeroSatan as Classical Hero

““To bow and sue for GraceTo bow and sue for Grace

With suppliant knee, and deifie his power,With suppliant knee, and deifie his power,

Who from the terrour of this Arm so lateWho from the terrour of this Arm so late

Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed,Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed,

That were an ignominy and shame beneathThat were an ignominy and shame beneath

This downfall;” (I.110-115)This downfall;” (I.110-115) To supplicate is to submit; it implies To supplicate is to submit; it implies

weakness and is an appeal for mercyweakness and is an appeal for mercy

Satan Glories in HellSatan Glories in Hell““Hail horrours, hailHail horrours, hail

Infernal world, and thou profoundest HellInfernal world, and thou profoundest HellReceive thy new Possessor: One who bringsReceive thy new Possessor: One who bringsA mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time.A mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time.The mind is its own place, and in it selfThe mind is its own place, and in it selfCan make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n…Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n…

Here at leastHere at leastWe shall be free…We shall be free…Here we may reign secure, and in my choyceHere we may reign secure, and in my choyceTo reign is worth ambition though in Hell:To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.” Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.”

(I.250-263)(I.250-263)

Comments on Satan’s Comments on Satan’s speechspeech

Reverses Achilles Reverses Achilles words to Odysseus in words to Odysseus in the Underworld: the Underworld: “better to be a slave in “better to be a slave in life than a King in the life than a King in the underworld.”underworld.”

Champions the idea of Champions the idea of Kingdom where the Kingdom where the people are Free. God people are Free. God is presented as is presented as “tyrant,” not unlike “tyrant,” not unlike King CharlesKing Charles

The Assembly: The Assembly: Free Debate of Free Debate of Fallen AngelsFallen Angels

AssemblyAssembly Satan is the first Satan is the first

among equalsamong equals Satan rules by Satan rules by

virtue of “merit”virtue of “merit” Sheds “tears Sheds “tears

such as Angels such as Angels weep” before weep” before addressing the addressing the Angels; Recalls Angels; Recalls tears of tears of Odysseus and Odysseus and AchillesAchilles

Resolution of RebellionResolution of Rebellion

Satan: “So farewell Hope, and with Satan: “So farewell Hope, and with Hope farewell Fear, Farewell Hope farewell Fear, Farewell Remorse: all Good to me is lost; Evil Remorse: all Good to me is lost; Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least be thou my Good; by thee at least Divided Empire with Heav’ns King I Divided Empire with Heav’ns King I hold By thee, and more than half hold By thee, and more than half perhaps will reigne; As Man ere long, perhaps will reigne; As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.”and this new World shall know.”

Gender and Paradise LostGender and Paradise Lost

Eve is supposed to be subservient to Adam Eve is supposed to be subservient to Adam (for nothing lovelier can be found/in Woman, (for nothing lovelier can be found/in Woman, then to studie household good,/And good then to studie household good,/And good works in her Husband to promote.”) IX.232works in her Husband to promote.”) IX.232

Adam fails her by being weak; allowing her Adam fails her by being weak; allowing her to seek out ‘epic trials’ to prove her worth, to seek out ‘epic trials’ to prove her worth, when he should protect her (ie., shelter her); when he should protect her (ie., shelter her); “O much deceav’d, much failing, hapless “O much deceav’d, much failing, hapless Eve.”Eve.”

Eve’s Beauty Disarms Satan momentarilyEve’s Beauty Disarms Satan momentarily

Adam and Eve’s SupplicatonsAdam and Eve’s Supplicatons““ prostrate fellprostrate fell

Before him reverent, and Before him reverent, and both confess’dboth confess’d

Humbly thir faults, and Humbly thir faults, and pardon beg’d, with tears pardon beg’d, with tears watering the ground, and watering the ground, and with thir sighs the Airwith thir sighs the Air

Frequenting, sent from hearts Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in signcontrite, in sign

Of Sorrow unfeign’d, and Of Sorrow unfeign’d, and humiliation meek.”humiliation meek.”

Optimistic End: Epic Optimistic End: Epic ResolutionResolution

““They looking back, all th’ Eastern side beheldThey looking back, all th’ Eastern side beheldOf Paradise, so late thir happie seat,Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat,Wav’d over by that Flaming Brand, the GateWav’d over by that Flaming Brand, the GateWith dreadful Faces throng’d and fierie Armes:With dreadful Faces throng’d and fierie Armes:Som natural tears they drop’d, but wip’d them Som natural tears they drop’d, but wip’d them

soon;soon;The World was all before them, where to chooseThe World was all before them, where to chooseThir place of rest, and providence thir guide:Thir place of rest, and providence thir guide:They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,Through Eden took thir solitarie way.” (XII.640)Through Eden took thir solitarie way.” (XII.640)

ConclusionsConclusions In Paradise Lost, Satan is the Classical In Paradise Lost, Satan is the Classical

Hero; Adam the Christian Anti-HeroHero; Adam the Christian Anti-Hero Milton reveals a natural affiliation with; Milton reveals a natural affiliation with;

but, these rebels have no just cause for but, these rebels have no just cause for rebellion other than pride or vanity or rebellion other than pride or vanity or delusiondelusion

The Classical Hero must be rejecteded The Classical Hero must be rejecteded because he is too egoisticalbecause he is too egoistical

In the end, God’s hierarchy is upheld and In the end, God’s hierarchy is upheld and Obedience is shown to be the proper Obedience is shown to be the proper valuevalue

Despite The Fall, Milton succeeds in Despite The Fall, Milton succeeds in presenting the Optimism of Christianitypresenting the Optimism of Christianity