The Development of Milton's Thought
Law, Government, and Religion
Publication Year: 2008
The one constant in Milton’s writing and thought is that of faith in God, but the theology that underlies this unchanging faith—such as his views on the Trinity and God’s providence—develops through reflection and adverse experience, often yielding more defined ideas. Shawcross also traces the development of Milton’s concepts about political thought, attitudes toward the church, financial matters, the “people,” and gender, some of which result in complicated (and often unresolved) issues.
Shawcross’s presentation of a Milton whose thought does indeed develop and change—albeit with an unbending belief that faith and God supervene—is an essential contribution to Milton scholarship.
Published by: Duquesne University Press
Contents
Preface
Download PDF (67.2 KB)
pp. vii-x
Criticism has frequently viewed John Milton as having a mind that never changed, not over time, not according to any subject, not for any reason. Unrealistic as that view is, it quite often underlies the reading of both his poetry and his...
One. Milton and Constancy of Thought
Download PDF (111.6 KB)
pp. 1-24
Critical attitudes have long held that John Milton was unwaveringly aware of his thinking about his career and vocation, social life, government and politics, and religion in both doctrine and discipline. It has been alleged that his thinking...
Two. Milton and Legal Matters
Download PDF (136.3 KB)
pp. 25-48
For the most part any legalities in reference to Milton’s biography have been relegated to chancery concerns involving loans, transference of property, and default by some of those failing to comply with required actions. Another aspect...
Three. Milton the Republican
Download PDF (86.4 KB)
pp. 49-62
A major topic within Milton scholarship in recent years — indeed within most literary discussion and of such great concern in our everyday life — has been the political world. Much of the uneducated name-calling in the popular media has shown ignorance of what words like “conservative...
Four. Milton, the Church, and Theology
Download PDF (98.2 KB)
pp. 63-81
Interrelated, yet separate, for all people are the external world and the internal mind. Much that we do or that occurs for us in life or that concerns us is influenced by that internal mind — our knowledge, our thoughts, our emotions...
Five. Theological Concerns, Especially the Trinity
Download PDF (135.4 KB)
pp. 82-110
In the epistle prefacing De doctrina Christiana, Milton indicates that he realized he could “not depend upon the belief or judgment of others in religious questions” and that “the only authority . . . was God’s self-revelation, and accordingly...
Six. Theological Concerns, the Son, and the Divine Presence
Download PDF (123.1 KB)
pp. 111-134
The most notorious theological concern that has flooded Milton scholarship is the relationship of the Son to the Father, the Son as God, leading to the Arian label for his thought and, in counter-distinction, to the positing ...
Seven. Conceptual Reflections in Milton’s Poetry and Prose
Download PDF (112.1 KB)
pp. 135-158
For the reader and scholar of literature the words and images employed to communicate the meanings, experience, creation, and enjoyment of that literature are extremely important — they are the very elements constituting any reading or analysis. I have in previous chapters paid...
Eight. The Three Major Poems
Download PDF (82.2 KB)
pp. 159-170
The three major poems have entered our discussion often in the previous chapters. In relation to the subject of Milton’s unchanging or changed mind the question of the dates of their composition must be considered. We can and should read a text as it is received, but we also should acknowledge...
Nine. Unchanging Belief and the Changed Mind
Download PDF (125.4 KB)
pp. 171-196
The preceding chapters have demonstrated that a blanket application of the phrase “Milton’s unchanging mind” is simply wrong. Not only did the externalities of life involving thought and attitude that Milton experienced...
Notes
Download PDF (250.2 KB)
pp. 197-255
Works Cited
Download PDF (105.4 KB)
pp. 256-274
Index
Download PDF (6.0 MB)
pp. 275- 283
E-ISBN-13: 9780820705101
Print-ISBN-13: 9780820704111
Page Count: 293
Publication Year: 2008
Series Title: Medieval & Renaissance Literary Studies
Series Editor Byline: Albert C. Labriola
