The Tyranny of Heaven: Milton's Rejection of God as KingThe Tyranny of Heaven argues for a new way of reading the figure of Milton's God, contending that Milton rejects kings on earth and in heaven. Though Milton portrays God as a king in Paradise Lost, he does this neither to endorse kingship nor to recommend a monarchical model of deity. Instead, he recommends the Son, who in Paradise Regained rejects external rule as the model of politics and theology for Milton's fit audience though few. The portrait of God in Paradise Lost serves as a scathing critique of the English people and its slow but steady backsliding into the political habits of a nation long used to living under the yoke of kingship, a nation that maintained throughout its brief period of liberty the image of God as a heavenly king, and finally welcomed with open arms the return of a human king. Michael Bryson is a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Northwestern University. |
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This is an excellent and well researched book, re-establishing for modern readers what potentially is Milton's original political intention in writing Paradise Lost (which is also the obvious interpretation of the text that unfortunately has been subjugated by literary criticism's attempt to enjoy Milton while 'de-thorning' him as it were, by ignoring his revolutionary agenda and ideology). The Tyranny of Heaven is perhaps a beacon in the modern humanistic effort to reclaim Milton out of orthodox readings which continue to ignore the 'majesty' of Satan.
Contents
| 9 | |
His Tyranny Who Reigns The Biblical Roots of Divine Kingship and Miltons Rejection of Heavns King in Prose and Poetry | 42 |
Who durst defy th Omnipotent to Arms Satans Fall from Hero to King | 77 |
That far be from thee Divine Evil Justification and the Evolution of the Son from WarriorKing to Hero | 112 |
Tempt not the Lord thy God The End of Kingship and the Awareness of Divine Similitude in Paradise Regained | 148 |
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Common terms and phrases
angels appears argues argument attempt audience authority becomes believe Book cause challenge character Christ Christian Church claim clear concern create critics death defend deity describes divine Doctrina earth earthly Empson England English epic equal evil example expressed external fact fall fallen Father figure finally follow force given gives glory gods Heaven heavenly human idea imagined inner internal Israel John justification kind king kingdom Kings and Magistrates kingship less light means merely military Milton mind monarch nature obedience once Paradise Lost Paradise Regained poem poetic political position present Prose question radical raised readers reading rebel rebellion refers reign rejection rhetoric rule Satan scriptures seems sense serve Son's spirit suggests temptation ther things thought throne tion tradition true tyranny tyrant University Press worship writes Yahweh
References to this book
The Oxford Handbook of English Literature and Theology Andrew Hass,David Jasper,Elisabeth Jay No preview available - 2007 |
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Tyranny of Heaven: Milton's Rejection of God as King |
| Author | Michael Bryson |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | University of Delaware Press, 2004 |
| ISBN | 0874138590, 9780874138597 |
| Length | 208 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |