John Milton: The Self and the World (Studies in the English Renaissance)

Winner of the James Holly Hanford Prize given by the Milton Society of America An exporation into the mind of John Milton that probes deeper than previous biographical studies, John Shawcross's award-winning text examines the psychological underpinnings of Milton's decision to become a poet, the homoerotic dimensions of his personality, and his relationships with his father and mother. John T. Shawcross is professor emeritus of English at the University of Kentucky and the author and editor of many books. See other books in the series Studies in the English Renaissance. John Milton......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 7 Abbreviations......Page 8 1— The Roots of Being: Some Problems in Milton's Biography......Page 9 2— A Biographical and Literary Overview to 1645......Page 24 3— The Lady of Christ's......Page 41 4— Decision to Become a Poet......Page 69 5— Preparations......Page 79 6— The Left Hand and the Great Purpose......Page 101 7— Education as Means......Page 116 8— Covenant: Sacred and Profaned......Page 136 9— Moves toward the Great Purpose......Page 151 10— A Biographical and Literary Overview to 1674......Page 171 11— Interferences of the Self......Page 183 12— The Personal World: Man and Woman......Page 201 13— Further Interferences of the Self......Page 221 14— The Political Dimension......Page 241 15— The Religious Precept......Page 255 16— The Bible......Page 268 17— Milton and 1674......Page 280 Appendix A— The Commonplace Book......Page 289 Appendix B— Languages in the Commonplace Book......Page 293 Appendix C— Dating of the Plans......Page 297 1— The Roots of Being......Page 303 3— The Lady of Christ's......Page 305 4— Decision to Become a Poet......Page 311 5— Preparations......Page 314 6— The Left Hand and the Great Purpose......Page 322 7— Education as Means......Page 324 8— Covenant: Sacred and Profaned......Page 326 9— Moves toward the Great Purpose......Page 329 10— A Biographical and Literary Overview to 1674......Page 334 11— Interferences of the Self......Page 336 12— The Personal World: Man and Woman......Page 337 13— Further Interferences of the Self......Page 341 14— The Political Dimension......Page 345 15— The Religious Precept......Page 347 16— The Bible......Page 349 Appendix C— Dating of the Plans......Page 350 A......Page 352 B......Page 353 C......Page 354 D......Page 355 F......Page 356 H......Page 357 K......Page 358 M......Page 359 O......Page 360 P......Page 361 S......Page 363 W......Page 365 Y......Page 366 The facts of John Milton's life are well documented, but what of the person Miltonthe man whose poetic and prose works have been deeply influential and are still the subject of opposing readings? John Shawcross's "different" biography depicts the man against a psychological backdrop that brings into relief who he wasin his works and from his works. While the theories of Freud, Lacan, Kohut, and others underlie this pursuit of Milton's "self," Jung and some of his followers provide the basic understanding by which Shawcross places Milton in the panorama of history. His explorations of the psychological underpinnings of Milton's decision to become a poet, of the homoerotic dimensions of his personality, and of his relationships with father and mother demonstrate the extent to which psychobiography proves itself invaluable as a means to appreciate this complex writer and his complex writings. This biography combines the traditional chronological narrative with a technique akin to that of fiction, "a mixture of times and a triggering of remembrances from various time frames without time differentiations." Such an approach offers a view of Milton "not only in being but in process of being." Shawcross's examination of two current concerns, gender attitudes and political ideologies, ranges Milton's work against the self he exhibits. Specialists and nonspecialists alike will find in this magisterial biography a wealth of new insight into one of the greatest of English poets. This Biography Combines The Traditional Chronological Narrative With A Technique Akin To That Of Fiction, A Mixture Of Times And A Triggering Of Remembreances. It Examines Two Current Concerns, Gender Attitudes And Political Ideologies, Ranging Milton's Work Against The Self He Exhibits. 1. The Roots Of Being: Some Problems In Milton's Biography -- 2. A Biographical And Literary Overview To 1645 -- 3. The Lady Of Christ's -- 4. Decision To Become A Poet -- 5. Preparations -- 6. The Left Hand And The Great Purpose -- 7. Education As Means -- 8. Covenant: Sacred And Profaned -- 9. Moves Toward The Great Purpose -- 10. A Biographical And Literary Overview To 1674 -- 11. Interferences Of The Self -- 12. The Personal World: Man And Woman -- 13. Further Interferences Of The Self -- 14. The Political Dimension -- 15. The Religious Precept -- 16. The Bible -- 17. Milton And 1674 -- Appendix A: The Commonplace Book -- Appendix B: Languages In The Commonplace Book -- Appendix C: Dating Of The Plans. John T. Shawcross. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.