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The Western Canon Mailing List
Moderator: Paul John Barnette Jr.
Activation Date: March 8, 1997
Current Date: May 12, 1997
Current Membership: 52
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Hello, all--

I'd like to introduce myself before launching into the couple of
comments that I have. My name is Lavinia Touchton, and I also am a
transplant to the West Coast (from Florida to Seattle). I joined this
group in order to structure my reading somewhat--I have diverse
reading interests, and it's easy to float from book to book without
ever focusing on a certain genre or subject. I'm interested in reading
(and rereading) more of the "classics," but I find it easier to do in
a focused environment. 

My background includes a degree in English Lit. from the University of
Virginia and a wide variety of jobs that have included teaching
eighth- and ninth-grade English at a prep school in Florida, working
in a bookstore, and managing the computer systems for a graphic design
firm.

Now, for my input.

> (3) Utilize any supplementary material that you can find
> on the poem, even Cliffs Notes if need be. 

This is, indeed, a good idea. Milton is difficult, and reading
summaries of the Books before reading the Books themselves can help
immensely. I'm using my old "Norton Anthology of English Literature"
from high school for the reading, and the introductions that the
editors provide have been very helpful. Also, if anyone has access to
"Masterpieces of World Literature in Digest Form," edited by Frank
Magill, which essentially is a series of synopses, you might find that
summary and analysis to be of use. If I had utilized such aids when I
read the poem the first time back in high school, I would have enjoyed
it much more then!

>Why does Milton spend the first two books with Satan? I find this
>rather odd considering that he is trying to argue God's side of the
>case. Is it solely due to dramatic/aesthetic reasons or is there
>more going on here than meets the eye?

I would suggest that his motivation is two-fold. First (please excuse
me if I make a generalization here), we all know God's side of the
case. I suspect that Milton would have assumed that the vast majority
of his audience would be familiar with the story of the creation of
Heaven and Earth, man and woman, the Garden of Eden, etc. This side of
the story was and is, for the most part, common knowledge. The gaps in
his audience's knowledge were more likely to have been concerning
Satan's side of the story. It makes sense to me that Milton would have
first addressed the unknowns, before returning God's part of the
story. 

The other part of his motivation might simply be that the story about
Satan is the juicy stuff! Yes, Milton may be trying to argue God's
side of the case, but that doesn't change the fact that Satan's story
is exciting, dramatic, adventurous. Satan's the one who has all the
struggles, not God. I think you hit the nail on the head, Paul, in
your comment about Book III:

> Finally Book III introduces us to Heaven and the heavenly host. God
> and his Son (who is never referred to as Jesus) are shown in
> conversation with each other. Personally I found myself rushing
> through this section to get back to Satan, where all the action is.
> Am I alone in this reaction?

I'd be interested to hear what other readers think of this. I'm also
happy for anyone to contact me directly if they choose:  my email
address is LHTouchton@LHTouchton.seanet.com. -- 

Lavinia H. Touchton
Systems Administrator, WesDesign
Seattle, WA


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