The Practical Christ: An Analysis of Christ as Expressed in John Milton's Paradise Regained

<p><b>The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the unique relationship between scripture and poetry.</b></p> <p>This analysis is primarily conducted through an investigation into the figure of Christ as heappears in poetry outside of scripture, specifically in John Milton’s Paradise Regained. Thepoem is distinctive in its treatment and characterisation of Christ and therefore acts as a uniquecase study with which to study this relationship between scripture and poetry. The mainargument of this thesis revolves around how Milton constructs Christ as a literary character atthe centre of his chosen narrative. The first chapter discusses the Gospels and the scripturalsources that Milton elects to use for his poem. Having analysed the scriptural material and howMilton has chosen to adapt it, the second chapter develops this by investigating the charges ofheresy that have been made against the poem. It is also in this chapter where Milton’s personaltheology is analysed to provide greater understanding of how this theology is expressed withinParadise Regained. The final chapter focuses on the form and genre of the poem,demonstrating that the way in which Milton constructs Christ as a literary figure highlights theintricacies which poets are faced with when it comes to creating a poetic vision of Christ, thusultimately asking: How does the poet reconcile the elements of scripture that cannot be ignoredwith their own artistic liberty? This thesis proposes that Milton is conscious of this conundrumand constructs his poem in such a way where this exact question is baked into the conflictbetween Christ and Satan. Paradise Regained is a poem that is concerned with scripture as acollective social and historical narrative and characterises Christ as a historian of this collectivenarrative. This is done, so as to best articulate the ways in which poetry can be utilised tocomment and build upon how the reader may integrate scripture into their own lives and socialnarratives.</p>

The Practical Christ: An Analysis of Christ as Expressed in John Milton's Paradise Regained

<p><b>The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the unique relationship between scripture and poetry.</b></p> <p>This analysis is primarily conducted through an investigation into the figure of Christ as heappears in poetry outside of scripture, specifically in John Milton’s Paradise Regained. Thepoem is distinctive in its treatment and characterisation of Christ and therefore acts as a uniquecase study with which to study this relationship between scripture and poetry. The mainargument of this thesis revolves around how Milton constructs Christ as a literary character atthe centre of his chosen narrative. The first chapter discusses the Gospels and the scripturalsources that Milton elects to use for his poem. Having analysed the scriptural material and howMilton has chosen to adapt it, the second chapter develops this by investigating the charges ofheresy that have been made against the poem. It is also in this chapter where Milton’s personaltheology is analysed to provide greater understanding of how this theology is expressed withinParadise Regained. The final chapter focuses on the form and genre of the poem,demonstrating that the way in which Milton constructs Christ as a literary figure highlights theintricacies which poets are faced with when it comes to creating a poetic vision of Christ, thusultimately asking: How does the poet reconcile the elements of scripture that cannot be ignoredwith their own artistic liberty? This thesis proposes that Milton is conscious of this conundrumand constructs his poem in such a way where this exact question is baked into the conflictbetween Christ and Satan. Paradise Regained is a poem that is concerned with scripture as acollective social and historical narrative and characterises Christ as a historian of this collectivenarrative. This is done, so as to best articulate the ways in which poetry can be utilised tocomment and build upon how the reader may integrate scripture into their own lives and socialnarratives.</p>

The Practical Christ: An Analysis of Christ as Expressed in John Milton's Paradise Regained

<p><b>The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the unique relationship between scripture and poetry.</b></p> <p>This analysis is primarily conducted through an investigation into the figure of Christ as heappears in poetry outside of scripture, specifically in John Milton’s Paradise Regained. Thepoem is distinctive in its treatment and characterisation of Christ and therefore acts as a uniquecase study with which to study this relationship between scripture and poetry. The mainargument of this thesis revolves around how Milton constructs Christ as a literary character atthe centre of his chosen narrative. The first chapter discusses the Gospels and the scripturalsources that Milton elects to use for his poem. Having analysed the scriptural material and howMilton has chosen to adapt it, the second chapter develops this by investigating the charges ofheresy that have been made against the poem. It is also in this chapter where Milton’s personaltheology is analysed to provide greater understanding of how this theology is expressed withinParadise Regained. The final chapter focuses on the form and genre of the poem,demonstrating that the way in which Milton constructs Christ as a literary figure highlights theintricacies which poets are faced with when it comes to creating a poetic vision of Christ, thusultimately asking: How does the poet reconcile the elements of scripture that cannot be ignoredwith their own artistic liberty? This thesis proposes that Milton is conscious of this conundrumand constructs his poem in such a way where this exact question is baked into the conflictbetween Christ and Satan. Paradise Regained is a poem that is concerned with scripture as acollective social and historical narrative and characterises Christ as a historian of this collectivenarrative. This is done, so as to best articulate the ways in which poetry can be utilised tocomment and build upon how the reader may integrate scripture into their own lives and socialnarratives.</p>

Paradise Regained? Localised and Limited Nature Connexions in the UK's Covid-19 Lockdown

Research has suggested that connexions between humans and the natural world lead to increased well-being and generate pro-environmental attitudes, which in turn benefit nature. This article asks whether users of outdoor public spaces in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 experienced greater connectedness with nature, consistent with the five “pathways to nature connectedness” identified in previous research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 42 individuals on their use of green and public spaces during the UK's lockdown, while a further 29 participants responded to an online survey. While the research revealed the importance of nature connectedness, only three of the five pathways were well-evidenced, and these connexions were frequently mediated by social activities. The article advances the study of nature connectedness by identifying challenges in applying the pathways framework and suggesting areas for further research to understand how the pathways operate in real-world conditions.

Erratum: The crown of virginity, paradise regained: A study of Jerome’s ascetic exegesis in a selection of his works

No abstract available.

Democratic Intellect: Freeing Thought for the Democracy To-come

<p><b>The core argument of this thesis is on the aporetic moment/space of decision and the poetics of the to-come in John Milton's works, with the fundamental importance of the individual. For Milton, this moment/space is radically critical and free, and individually problematic, which goes beyond the usual private/public space even though the public aspects and responsibilities of the person's decision demonstrate exceptional significance in the form of public enactment. In Milton's terms, the experience of such an aporetic moment/space of decision is indispensible for those who want to become a "fit reader" and develop the essential qualities and attributes. I will argue that Milton has always written with the desire to highlight and exemplify the absolute singularity of such a moment and experience throughout his life and works, both prose and poetry.</b></p> <p>The thesis will represent its arguments in two sections. The first section, through a consideration of Derrida's arguments in his works (in particular: "The Laws of Reflection: Nelson Mandela, in Admiration," "The Future of the Profession or the Unconditional University," "Force of Law: 'The Mystical Foundation of Authority,'" and "This Strange Institution Called Literature") together with a selection of Milton's writings, mainly prose (including: Areopagitica, Eikonoklastes, The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, and Paradise Lost), will examine and identify possible continuities and convergences between the two writers. Such an intimate juxtaposition and close reading of their works has promisingly offered recognition of continuities, convergences, and affinities in their thought in terms of the qualities and attributes of the "fit reader" and the "democratic intellect." In the opening five chapters, the interactive reading highlights fundamental questions and notions for both writers, including the question of exemplarity or singularity, the notion of public space without conditions, the question of justice beyond the law, the critique of violence, and the question of literature as a lawless institution, providing me with the essential terminology to formulate new interpretations of Milton's works, in particular, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes.</p> <p>The second part of the thesis uses the conceptions and terms developed in the opening chapters to read the two late poems, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, as singular examples of Milton's fit reader, the aporetic moment/space of decision, and the poetics of the to-come by setting out the general comparative points between them. The focus of my arguments in these chapters will be on the hypothesis that Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes are both demonstrating the aporetic moment/space of decision - confusingly replete with uncertainties, complexities, and indeterminacies - and the dominant poetics of the to-come as well as arguing for the singularity of the moment, decision, and enactment of the decision in each poem. I will argue that Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes provide outstanding exemplifications of Milton's notion of the "fit reader" developing similar qualities and attributes in common with Derrida's "democratic intellect."Milton's works represent the aporetic moment/space of decision as an ongoing process; it is a singular moment in which uncertainties and indeterminacies produce unresolvable choices, but where a decision must nonetheless be made; it is a moment of "trial" the result of which cannot be known to the individual "fit reader" in advance. Milton's late poems, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, explore the critical significance of this moment and demonstrate that no certain, fixed, pre-programmed, or predetermined model or frame can be applied to the resolution of aporetic moments of decision in different times, places, and contexts. The "fit reader" is one who radically and critically reads and re-reads aporetic situations, full of inescapable indeterminacies and unresolved choices, and expresses his individual judgement in the singular form of a true decision (not calculation) to advance the possibilities of truth, justice, and humanity.</p>

Democratic Intellect: Freeing Thought for the Democracy To-come

<p><b>The core argument of this thesis is on the aporetic moment/space of decision and the poetics of the to-come in John Milton's works, with the fundamental importance of the individual. For Milton, this moment/space is radically critical and free, and individually problematic, which goes beyond the usual private/public space even though the public aspects and responsibilities of the person's decision demonstrate exceptional significance in the form of public enactment. In Milton's terms, the experience of such an aporetic moment/space of decision is indispensible for those who want to become a "fit reader" and develop the essential qualities and attributes. I will argue that Milton has always written with the desire to highlight and exemplify the absolute singularity of such a moment and experience throughout his life and works, both prose and poetry.</b></p> <p>The thesis will represent its arguments in two sections. The first section, through a consideration of Derrida's arguments in his works (in particular: "The Laws of Reflection: Nelson Mandela, in Admiration," "The Future of the Profession or the Unconditional University," "Force of Law: 'The Mystical Foundation of Authority,'" and "This Strange Institution Called Literature") together with a selection of Milton's writings, mainly prose (including: Areopagitica, Eikonoklastes, The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, and Paradise Lost), will examine and identify possible continuities and convergences between the two writers. Such an intimate juxtaposition and close reading of their works has promisingly offered recognition of continuities, convergences, and affinities in their thought in terms of the qualities and attributes of the "fit reader" and the "democratic intellect." In the opening five chapters, the interactive reading highlights fundamental questions and notions for both writers, including the question of exemplarity or singularity, the notion of public space without conditions, the question of justice beyond the law, the critique of violence, and the question of literature as a lawless institution, providing me with the essential terminology to formulate new interpretations of Milton's works, in particular, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes.</p> <p>The second part of the thesis uses the conceptions and terms developed in the opening chapters to read the two late poems, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, as singular examples of Milton's fit reader, the aporetic moment/space of decision, and the poetics of the to-come by setting out the general comparative points between them. The focus of my arguments in these chapters will be on the hypothesis that Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes are both demonstrating the aporetic moment/space of decision - confusingly replete with uncertainties, complexities, and indeterminacies - and the dominant poetics of the to-come as well as arguing for the singularity of the moment, decision, and enactment of the decision in each poem. I will argue that Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes provide outstanding exemplifications of Milton's notion of the "fit reader" developing similar qualities and attributes in common with Derrida's "democratic intellect."Milton's works represent the aporetic moment/space of decision as an ongoing process; it is a singular moment in which uncertainties and indeterminacies produce unresolvable choices, but where a decision must nonetheless be made; it is a moment of "trial" the result of which cannot be known to the individual "fit reader" in advance. Milton's late poems, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, explore the critical significance of this moment and demonstrate that no certain, fixed, pre-programmed, or predetermined model or frame can be applied to the resolution of aporetic moments of decision in different times, places, and contexts. The "fit reader" is one who radically and critically reads and re-reads aporetic situations, full of inescapable indeterminacies and unresolved choices, and expresses his individual judgement in the singular form of a true decision (not calculation) to advance the possibilities of truth, justice, and humanity.</p>

‘Paradise Regained’

This chapter focuses on John Milton’s Paradise Regained, looking at the alleged defects in its style. Several critics have spoken of a barer Miltonic style, found in Paradise Regained and in some other of his works, which contrasts with the grand style of Paradise Lost. This barer style is deliberately plain, and on principle avoids the ornate epic magniloquence of ‘swelling epithets thick-laid’. Indeed, Paradise Regained exhibits some low-style features, such as laconism. However, another approach has been to see Paradise Regained as reflecting a new personal phase in Milton’s development. The chapter then argues that the style of Paradise Regained was innovative, considering the characteristics of this new style. The style of Paradise Regained may be bare by some criteria; but it is incomparably rich in mimetic effects—richer, indeed, than most of Paradise Lost.

Simile for the Devil: Paradise Regained and the Secularization of Satan

A central, secularizing plot of John Milton's Paradise Regained is the dissolution of Satan. As the Son passes from scriptural figure to reality, Satan is gradually reduced from mythological character to metaphor. While both the demythologization of evil and the explanation of religious concepts as metaphor have long histories as central examples of secularization and of the liberalization of religion, theorists from the political-theological right (e.g., Carl Schmitt) and postsecularist left (e.g., Talal Asad) have called attention to the analogies that can be drawn between apparently secular concepts and stories and earlier, religious doctrines and myths, claiming that such analogies call into question the legitimacy and distinctiveness of the secular. Against those critiques, I argue that secularization stories can be distinguished from religious narrative, albeit not for their naturalism, their liberalism, their rationalism, or other doctrinal content. Rather, they force us to face their own constructed, literary qualities.