How Without Remorse the Ruin of so many Glorious Ones
Ack! The GRE Subject Test in Literature is this Saturday--as a result, poor blog, you are being just a little neglected. I promise I will make it up to you after the weekend (and hey, the upside to this test? ETS adores Paradise Lost, as well as critical engagements with Milton, such as Johnson's work).
For now, however, I will placate my sad and lonely blog with a few words on Book V. Though I was entranced by the entirety of Eve's description of her dream, I was particularly intrigued by Adam's declaration that thoughts are separate from actions, and that a corrupt thought in no way stains either the soul or the body. "Evil," he tells Eve, "into the mind of god or man / May come and go, so unapproved, and leave /No spot or blame behind" (X. 117-119). A lovely sentiment on the surface becomes somewhat specious, however, when we juxtapose the birth of Sin from Satan's head. A contradiction becomes immediately apparent, for Satan's thoughts, not yet realized in the physical or external capacities, not only quite literally generate evil, but his thoughts fully formed, one could argue, seal his fate and testify to his already fallen nature. Evil thoughts mark his "body"--a complicated term here, I know--and make a new one, a female form translated from ethereal thought to firm, corporeal reality.
An instance of intrigue requiring the potential danger of evil contemplation.
For now, however, I will placate my sad and lonely blog with a few words on Book V. Though I was entranced by the entirety of Eve's description of her dream, I was particularly intrigued by Adam's declaration that thoughts are separate from actions, and that a corrupt thought in no way stains either the soul or the body. "Evil," he tells Eve, "into the mind of god or man / May come and go, so unapproved, and leave /No spot or blame behind" (X. 117-119). A lovely sentiment on the surface becomes somewhat specious, however, when we juxtapose the birth of Sin from Satan's head. A contradiction becomes immediately apparent, for Satan's thoughts, not yet realized in the physical or external capacities, not only quite literally generate evil, but his thoughts fully formed, one could argue, seal his fate and testify to his already fallen nature. Evil thoughts mark his "body"--a complicated term here, I know--and make a new one, a female form translated from ethereal thought to firm, corporeal reality.
An instance of intrigue requiring the potential danger of evil contemplation.
posted by alh at 12:35 PM
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