Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T06:45:05.110Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Celestial Entertainment in Eden: Book V of Paradise Lost

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

Jason P. Rosenblatt
Jason P. Rosenblatt
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania, Pheladelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Although the relationship between the Biblical figures Abraham and Adam underlies episodes in Books V, VIII, XI, and XII of Paradise Lost, only the significance of the parallels in the last two books has been explored fully. Barbara Kiefer Lewalski finds that the transition from vision to narration in Michael's presentation of history, coinciding with the story of Abraham, symbolizes Adam's initial revelation through faith of a covenantal relationship with God. Stressing the similarities between Abraham's departure from Ur and Adam's from Eden, Mother Mary Christopher Pecheux believes that this association “enriches and universalizes Milton's theme, helps to emphasize the virtues of the Christian hero, and reinforces the paradox of the fortunate fall.” Moreover, the topic of Abraham's departure from his homeland affords Milton the opportunity of incorporating the epic-journey motif into his poem.

Type
Research Article
Information
Harvard Theological Review , Volume 62 , Issue 4 , October 1969 , pp. 412 - 427
Copyright
Copyright © President and Fellows of Harvard College 1969

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Structure and the Symbolism of Vision in Michael's Prophecy, Paradise Lost, Books XI-XII, Philological Quarterly XLII (1963), 29–32Google Scholar.

2 Abraham, , Adam, , and the Theme of Exile in Paradise Lost, PMLA LXXX (1965), 370Google Scholar

3 Ibid., 370f.

4 Milton and an Anthropomorphic God, Studies in Philology LVI (1959), 619–25Google Scholar. PARISH refers to Genesis 18 (regarding Sodom), Exodus 32 (the incident of the golden calf), and Numbers 14 (the spies' report of Canaan).

5 Sims, James H., The Bible in Milton's Epics (Gainesville, Florida, 1962), 202–04, 210Google Scholar.

6 John Milton: Complete Poems and Major Prose, edited by Hughes, MERRITT Y. (New York, 1957), 309Google Scholar. Parenthetic references to MILTON'S poetry within this paper will be to HUGHES'S edition.

7 The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall tongues: & with the former Trattslations diligently compared and revised by his Maiesties speciall Commandement (London, 1611). This Authorized Version is the source of references to the English Bible.

8 See, for example, the rendition of the verse in the following editions: Biblia sacra, sive Testamentum vetus, ab. Im. Tremellio et Fr. Iunio ex Hebraeo Latine redditum (London, 1680Google Scholar): “Apparuit porro i Jehova in planitie Mamrae”; The Holie Bible (Bishop's version) (London, 1572Google Scholar): “And the Lorde appeared unto hym in the plaine of Mamre”; The Holy Bible (Geneva version) (London, 1578Google Scholar): “Againe the Lord Appeared unto him in the plaine of Mamre”; Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis, ed. Hetzenauer, P. Michael (Ratisbonae et Romae, 1922Google Scholar): “Apparuit autem ei Dominus in convalle Mambre.” Milton's use of the correct term suggests only that, confronted with a number of possible translations, he chose the correct one.

9 The Poetical Works of John Milton, vol. I (London, 1763), 386Google Scholar.

10 Willet, Andrew, Hexapla in Genesin (London, 1608), 199Google Scholar.

11 A Commentarie of John Calvine, upon the first booke of Moses called Genesis, translated by Tymme, Thomas (London, 1578), 381Google Scholar. See also The Bible (Geneva Edition) (London, 1615), note on Genesis 18:8.

12 The Workes of the Right Reverend Father in God, Gervase Babington, Late Bishop of Worcester, Containing Comfortable Notes Upon the Five Bookes of Moses (London, 1622), 55Google Scholar.

13 The Theme of Exile in Paradise Lost, 370.

14 The Bible in Milton's Epics, 202.

25 ibid., 204.

26 ibid., 203.

17 Calvin, John, A Commentarie Upon Genesis, 3 78–80Google Scholar;Diodati, John, Pious and Learned Annotations Upon the Holy Bible: Expounding the Most Difficult Places Thereof (London, 1648), 14Google Scholar: R. P. CORNELII A LAPIDE, Commentaria In Pentateuchum Mosis (Antwerp, 1618), 165f. LAPIDE cites numerous opinions to the effect that the visitors signify the Trinity. Regarding the identity of the three, he states: “Tres angeli significant Christum cum Mose & Elia.”

18 See, for example, Augustine, St., The City of God XVI.19Google Scholar, On the Trinity II.IO-II, Basic Writings of Saint Augustine II, edited by Oates, Whitney J. (New York, 1948), 349Google Scholar f., 711-14; Aquinas, St. Thomas, The Summa Theologica Q84,Google ScholarAio, , The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by Fathers of the English Province, Dominican, vol. 11 (London, 1922), 70Google Scholar;Luther, Martin, Works, vol. 3, translated by Schick, George V. (Saint Louis, 1958Google Scholar), igof.; Atnsworth, Henry, Annotations Upon the Five Bookes of Moses, the Book of the Psalmes, and the Song of Songs, Canticles (London, 1627), 71Google Scholar; Pareus, David, In Genesin Mosis Commentarius (Geneva, 1614), cols. 1238–39Google Scholar; Willet, , Hexapla in Genesin, 198Google Scholar; Trapp, John, A Clavis to the Bible or a New Comment Upon the Pentateuch (London, 1650), 139Google Scholar; Babington, , Works, 55Google Scholar; the headnote to Genesis 18 of the Bishop's Bible (London, 1372) states that the chapter contains “A mysterie of the Trinitie.”

19 Luther, , Works, vol. 3, 190Google Scholar.

20 Ibid., 191.

21 RASHI, Commentary, The Pentateuch with the Targum and the Commentaries of Rashi and Ibn Ezra, vol. 1 (Venice, 1524-25), Genesis 18:2. Subsequent references to RASHI are to this edition.

22 Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary, translated by Rev. Rosenbaum, M. and Dr. Silberman, A. M. (London, 1946Google Scholar). Subsequent references to translations from RASHI are to this edition.

23 Willet, ,Hexapla in Genesin, 198Google Scholar.

24 PAREUS, In Genesin Mosis Commentarius, col. 1239.

25 IBN EZRA, Commentary, The Pentateuch (Venice, 1524-25), Genesis 18:2.

26 Ogden, H. V. S., The Crisis of Paradise Lost Reconsidered, Philological Quarterly XXXVI (1957), IIfGoogle Scholar.

27 Bell, Millicent, The Fallacy of the Fall in Paradise Lost, PMLA LXVII (1953), 99fGoogle Scholar.

28 Kranidas, Thomas, The Fierce Equation: A Study of Milton's Decorum (The Hague, 1965), 154CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

29 Luther, , Works, vol. 3, 200fGoogle Scholar.

30 Ainsworth, , Annotations Upon the Five Bookes of Moses, 72Google Scholar.

31 Babington, , Works, 56Google Scholar.

32 Kranidas, , The Fierce Equation, 147Google Scholar.

33 Ibid., 148.

34 Frye, Northrop, Five Essays on Milton's Epics (London, 1966), 10Google Scholar.

35 See, for example, ST. AUGUSTINE, The City of God, XVI.19, 350. DAVID PAREUS, In Genesin Mosis Commentarius, col. 1238-39.

36 Kranidas, , The Fierce Equation, 154Google Scholar.