Milton’s Theodicy - Professor Taylor Cowdery PDF

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Professor Taylor Cowdery...

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Milton’s Theodicy I.

Milton’s Political Life o Time line of the English Civil War 1630s: Resentment builds against Charles I, both because he governs without parliament and because he is hostile to puritans and Presbyterians  1641: Rebellion breaks out in Ireland  1642: First military class  1646: Charles I is captured  August 1649: Hostilities increase  January 1649: Charles I is executed  1649-51: Residual conflict in Scotland Cavaliers = King forces; Parliamentarians = oppositions 

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o Timeline of English Commonwealth 

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May 1649: English Commonwealth proclaimed; England to be governed “by the supreme authority of The Nation, the Representatives of the People Parliament…” 1649-51: Cromwell puts down rebellions in Ireland and Scotland 1653: The Protectorate is established; Cromwell officially proclaimed “Lord Protector” for life September 1658: Cromwell dies 1660: The “Restoration” of Charles II; reinstatement of English monarchy

o Life of John Milton      

II.

Born 9 December 1608, died 8 November 1674 Son of wealthy scrivener, or notary Studied at St. Paul’s School, London and then at Cambridge, from 125-32 Studied privately (knew Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and Italian) and travelled during the 1630s Secretary for Foreign Tongues under Cromwell from 16491660 Composed Paradise Lost after retiring from politics; its first edition was published in 1667, the second in 1674

Sympathy for the Devil

Milton’s Theodicy Gods and Kings in Paradise Lost I.

Milton and Divine Right A.

Political Allegory in Paradise Lost

Satan God Devils Angels Pandemonium Heavenly Court Divine Civil War

B.

Cromwell Charles I Parliamentarians Cavaliers Parliament Royal Court English Civil War

Tenets of Absolute Monarchy 1. “Divine Right” the Monarch is directly appointed by God and rules as God on Earth 2. Absolute Power: Monarch has r over the laws and constitution of the state, not the other way around 3. Preservation of the State: the Monarch must preserve the state by all means at his/her disposal

III.

Hierarchy and Heavenw man to be A.

God’s Rule in Heaven 1. God on his throne: Seeing everything (past, present, and future) he curses man for disobeying him, but can do nothing, for he is absolutely just 2. Christ intercedes: God is indeed absolutely just, but does he really ant man to perish 3. God agrees: He will allo

The Inner Epic I.

Martin Luther, The Freedom of a Christian Man B. In the first major section of the tract Luther distinguishes between the dual natures of the human being as an “inner” and “outer” person.  1. The “inner person” is the “new man.” This is the spiritual nature. 2. The “outer person” is the “old man.” This is the fleshly nature.

Milton’s Theodicy 3. Luther bases this distinction on II Corinthians 4:16 and Galatians 5:17. 4. The soul’s freedom is not an external liberty (lack of political captivity, bodily illness, poverty and the like) but an endowment of the Word of God. See John 11:25 and Matthew 4:4. This is the “One thing and thing alone that leads to Christian life, righteousness, and freedom” (52)....