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Keywords

Milton, John, --1608-1674--Paradise regained; Paradise regained (Milton, John);

Abstract

The major problem confronting a student of Paradise Regained is to relate theology, philosophy, and drama. Critics, in the main, have either oversimplified the issues, or have given lopsided interpretations of the poem, emphasizing one aspect to the detriment of others of significance. Consequently, as noted in the Introduction, our study examines Paradise Regained's central theological and philosophical equation of Being and Freedom. Furthermore, our mode of approach is a running commentary and analysis to help us trace the poem's developing intellectual drama. Book I sets the stage for the conflict of ideas. During the first council with his cohorts, Satan reveals himself as the personification of cosmic evil. We then discuss the nature of the incarnate Christ--his suffering, his cosmic function, and his developing perfection; for it is necessary that we understand Christ before he encounters Satan. Satan's first temptation of the stones is a temptation of false faith; again Satan reveals himself as the embodiment of disdain and hate. Christ recognizes Satan, tells Satan that he is composed of lies, and that he, Christ, is the light of Truth. We thus see that the major conflict in the poem is between The Truth and The Lie. Book II presents Simon, Andrew, and Mary--human foils for Christ, in that they, like Jesus, struggle for faith and holiness. Their doubt, rooted in faith, we see is the opposite of Satan's, rooted in fear and hatred. We again discuss Satan's evil maneuverings, his delusions and false beliefs, as he addresses his peers a second time. Christ, meanwhile, communes with nature, and then sleeps and dreams. Here we see a most tender and human Christ who, though tired, keeps walking and meditating in search of his Father; but even now the Son will not have spiritual or physical peace, for shortly after Christ awakens he finds h:imself in an evil grove reminiscent of Spenser's Bower of Bliss. Satan appears and tempts Christ with a lavish banquet--a temptation to intemperance. We examine the concept of temperance in Paradise Regained, and also Satan's next intemperate temptation of wealth. In Book III we see that the virtue of temperance has both private and public, political significance. Satan now tempts Christ with the abstract temptation of political power; Christ counters with a definition of true glory. We then analyze the relationship between an intemperate citizenry and a tyrannical government. Satan shows Christ the city of Parthia, thereby hoping to weaken Christ's refusal to be political. Christ speaks of true liberty and of his own role as Servant-King; and we see that Christ's is the power of truth, not of physical force, whereas Satan is the spokesman of "realpolitik." At the beginning of Book IV Satan shows Christ the city of Rome, a symbol of the world of secular values against which must battle the spirituality of Christ. Once more Christ speaks of true freedom, and we discuss the nature of Christian liberty. Satan then proposes that Christ lead a contemplative, philosophical life, and shows him the city of Athens. Christ rejects this proposal because, as we see, Christ's is not worldly knowledge but heavenly wisdom. The next evening, the second night, Satan attempts to terrify Christ but fails; for Christ now has achieved perfection of being. The next morning of the third day Satan attempts to murder Christ; but, instead of falling, Christ stands upright on the pinnacle, and Satan is cast down to hell--goodness defeats evil. Christ's Sonship is then made public, and we conclude the chapter with a final discussion of Milton's presentation of the perfect and cosmic incarnate Christ. The Conclusion is a brief discussion of the ramifications of the central ideas of Paradise Regained. We further define the persons of Christ and Satan, the significance of Christ's Messiahship to nature and to man, and the meaning of Being and Freedom.

Year of Submission

1972

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of English Language and Literature

First Advisor

Louise Forest

Second Advisor

Francis Smith

Third Advisor

William C. Lang

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

1972

Object Description

1 PDF file (127 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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