English Poetry - 17th Century - Literary Criticism, Religious Poetry - Literary Criticism, English Poetry - General & Miscellaneous - Literary Criticism, Religion & Literature

Milton and Isaiah

Name: Milton and Isaiah
Author: Youngwon Park
ISBN: 9780820442884

by Youngwon Park

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Overview

This book compares Milton's Paradise Lost and the Book of Isaiah, by illustrating that both reflect the essential points of the whole Bible - rebellion, retribution, repentance, and restoration. Thematically, Milton's epic can be called a drama of salvation, which not only re-creates the Genesis story of the Fall of man, but also connects that first episode to the final restoration through Christ. What this study finds in Isaiah and Milton are theological themes and doctrines as the prophetic voice, the providential view of history, disobedience, the "saving remnant," the leader who is paradoxically a Suffering Servant, and the key virtue of humility. In this reading of Paradise Lost, Milton moves beyond the privileging of political activism to a position in which he gives absolute value to the reformation of the individual soul or, as the author terms it, the "inner self.".