HC, #21, Paradise Lost, Book 7, B

of the people of the angels who have been lost from heaven because of course one third of heavens angels have been thrown out we saw in an earlier lecture why right of course the how this when you want to put a star next to because milton as ophthalmologist as a lover of language interestingly does not really ever pick up this question how was creation done the spoken word of course if you are a you know a acquisitive mind you might want to ask the question if language is what creates then what language what language was spoken in the creation again kind of fascinating now let's remind before we get into our levels the three levels of reading one level one what does the text say level two what does the text mean here we divided the themes messages and of course rhetoric A to B not what the phone it says but how the poet says it and then finally level three how do I relate how do I relate this to other texts how do I relate it to the world how to are related to myself remember as we have said in earlier lectures we are studying Paradise Lost from three primary perspectives you could do it from many others we are just concentrating on three for our lectures Paradise Lost is epic for example in book three Tom I'm sorry in book seven we're gonna have the third example of what we will call the invocation of the muse why does Milton feel the need to do this again we'll try and answer those questions too we'll study paradise lost from the philosophic and the theological perspective for example we've already talked about a system ology and the notion of you of the study of knowledge and what you can actually know for example if we were to think about the epistemological position as we said in earlier lecture there's fundamentally three positions one can take about what one knows there's the absolutist position I absolutely know and if you don't agree with me everyone it doesn't agree with me is wrong the extreme opposite of that is the relativist position there is no truth there are no absolutes of course the problem is we've pointed out is what we call the performative Conte prediction just say there are no absolutes is deposit at least one absolute and the relative is position and in the extreme position falls on itself which is why some people rushed back to the absolute position of course there's a third position and it's what we will call an art in our discussions the fallibilist positions some have called this of course the science position that is to say I could I think I'm right but I could be wrong right until I find data that disproves my position I'm going to go ahead and continue to operate from a position of epistemological certainty but I'm always going to begin from the premise I could be wrong that is not a position of dogma for example now of course science becomes dogma and it will no longer challenge itself that we will usually refer to a scientism which is of course just another extreme form of absolutism as we as we've said in earlier lectures come up this for a question how does of the fallibilist question or think about oranges right we've already been introduced to the philosophy of oops don't ask but of course Wilbur's gonna argue that's more of an absolutist position just don't ask the question what about the question though and why it's important will be challenged for example think of this Milton would argue that your view of yourself what we call ontology is tied to your understanding of creation many have argued this by the way certainly st. Agustin argued this way as well for example Raphael and speaking to Adam and Eve in book 7 is going to be saying without actually ever necessarily coming out and saying it to both of them you are very special because you were created special finally we'll look at Paradise Lost from its political perspectives we'll ask again from the psychological and the sociological perspectives as we said in earlier lectures for example now this is from the psychological the individual might notice that it's Adam in these different books in the conversations with Raphael who is asking questions and in fact sometimes readers have wondered is Eve even there we're gonna find out that she is there Adam is the seeker as we may be saved from a sociological perspective though the obvious question is and again this takes us back to our study of the patriarchy from earlier lectures where is he and why is she so silent for so much of this exchange wow that's a lot of introduction I feel like though it's an important part of our being able to read and study this again I've said it some find this book kind of boring a book seven and not even out of place but I don't see it that way at all in fact I think this is central to Milton's project of justifying the ways of God to man back back to the original invocation so let's begin by being entertained again there's tremendous joy in Milton's poetry we're going to hopefully see that and I hope that I can translate that on to you guys and then as well let's be challenged right again why is there something instead of nothing it's an interesting 3b question and we'll finish the lecture by asking that why are you here are you here for some special purpose and if so how would you know that well let's begin at level one and as we have done with our earlier books we start with the argument that is to say the the kind of summary and so let's do that and then let's just provide a quick plot summary now just to remind we've just been told in our previous lecture about the ways in which Satan has been thrown out of heaven and that explains then why it is that Adam and Eve better be careful but now we're gonna get a request on the part of Adam hey tell me where I came from that is to say give me a Cosmo jhamak myth tell me where I came from explain the unexplainable let's read the argument Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and where for this world was first created that God after the expelling of Satan and his angels out of heaven declared his pleasure to create another world and other creatures to dwell therein sends his son with glory and attendance of angels to perform the work of creation in six days the angels celebrate with hymns the performance thereof and his Rhea section into heaven it's not a long book but there's a lot that happens here and of course most of it is really just a retelling of Genesis 1 in Genesis 2 now in an earlier lecture we of course read Genesis 3 and already we're beginning to see how much Milton amplifies Genesis 3 of course he will amplify Genesis 1 and 2 as well he will conflate him in some ways he would expand beyond them in a number of ways that will that will be significant and important for us all of those we want to point out as being as being significant and important for us as we go forward alright so here we go let's do a real simple plot summary book 7 and then we'll get on into the reading itself three important things one Milton begins with a third invocation to the muse I think there's a reason for that and one of the arguments I'm going to make later in the lecture is I think he was I think was deeply concerned about the work he was doing here I think he knew that religious readers of his day would be somewhat uncomfortable about some of the license that he was taking with for example the cosmogenic story of origins then number two Adam won't request this cosmogenic met the story of origins and rafi oh well then give a poetic rendering of course it's milton's poetry of Genesis 1 and 2 the very thing that we use read again well pay attention to the additions of the subtractions of as we read through this through this book especially now that we have the background let's begin with just the beauty again I like to do this of milton's poetry let's go now and just look at this invocation the first 70 lines or so and let's just play this game of enjoying he begins descend from heaven Urena by that name if rightly now are called whose voice divine following above the olympian hill i saw or back to soaring again back to the original invocation above the flight of pegasus wing of course you know about Pegasus and bolero and if you don't you can do a bit of googling on it the meaning not the name I call for thou nor of the muses 9 nor on the top of old Olympus dwellest but heaven born before the hills appeared or fountain flowed thou with eternal wisdom dis converse wisdom thy sister and with her display and presence of the Almighty father pleased with thy celestial song now ureña is the Roman muse of astronomy and so really all Milton is saying here is heavenly news it's a way to think about it notice we've got more flying and of course he's referencing the spirit the Holy Spirit the very spirit that was referenced in Genesis 1 moving on the face of the deep up lent by the end of the heaven of heavens I have presumed an earthly guest and drawn Imperial air thy temporary with like safety guided down return me to my native element lest from this flying steep Pegasus unbraid as once bow Aerith on foe from a lower climb dismounted on the alien field I fall erroneous there to wonder and forlorn in other words he begs that he will not have a fall himself in telling about the great creation story he says it the erroneous there to wonder and forlorn hath yet remains unsung he realizes he's at the midpoint of Paradise Lost now beginning book 7 but never were bound within the visible diurnal space fear standing on earth not wrapped about the pole more safe I sing with mortal voice unchanged to horse or mute though fallen on evil days on evil days he repeats it though fallen and evil tongues in darkness and with dangers compressed round and solitude now there's two readings of this Milton competes obviously speaking about his own whiteness and his own self doubts maybe at times about finishing this great poem he could as well of course be talking about what England is like now he's beginning already to maybe get a sense that a skepticism is starting to turn it become more clear Matthew Arnold will talk about it of course in Dover Beach as we've lectured this sea of faithless wants to at the pool and rounders for late like the fools of a bright girl throw but now I lay here it's long withdrawing melancholy roar that idea that there comes a moment when as Yeats will say in second coming the Falcon cannot hear the falconer and note ins already may be feeling this yet not alone while thou visitest my slumbers nightly or when morn Purple's the east still governed out my song let's just point out bill his father was a was a acclaimed amateur musician and Milton is going to have a lot of singing in Paradise Lost especially in this chapter it's one of the reasons why I love to read this chapter it's so musical it's so beautiful it's full of joy still govern that my song arena and fit audience find though few we think of Francis Bacon's remember enough studies of some few books to be completely digested here he says he seems to be suggesting there may be a lot of people that maybe disagree with my paradise loss but some of you I hope that I can find but drive far off the barbarous dissonance of Bacchus and his revelers the race of that wild route that toward the three shin guard and Wren dopey where woods and rock ten years to rapture till the savage climber drown both harp and voice the tale of course of if you want too much knowledge it can be dangerous that stands behind much of this invocation we want knowledge but Milton is suggesting we need knowledge with discipline with reserve with some understanding that it can be very dangerous right he says it to rapture till the savage climber drowned both harp and voice nor could the muse defend her son so fail not thou who the employers for thou art heavenly she an empty dream say goddess when it soon when wrath you the affable car Cajon had forewarned Adam remember this is the very end of book six by dire example to beware apostasy by what befell in heaven to those apostates lest the light befall in paradise to Adam or his race charged not to touch the Internet to treaty if they transgress and slight that soul command so easily obey amid the choice of altes else to please their appetite though wandering we're back to this idea of sin as a kind of wandering he and his consort of Eve the story heard attentively and so for the first time here we the mention of Eve I mean we've wondered where is she that she's been there the whole time she's not asking any questions she's just listening Adam is the one that will ask questions and he was filled with admiration and deep news to hear of things so high and strange things to their thoughts so unimaginable is he in heaven and more so neon the peace of God in bliss with such confusion but the evil soon driven back redounded as a flood on those from whom it's strong impossible to mix with blessedness Prince Adam soon repealed the doubts than in his heart arose knowledge often begins with doubts and now let on yet sinless with desire to know what nearer might concern him how this world of heaven and earth conspicuous first began when and where of created for what cause we obviously going through those questions who what where when why and how what would then eaten or without was done before his memory as one who's draw yet scarce allied still lies the current stream whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites perceived us to ask his heavenly guess a couple of observations here really quickly noticed that the longing for knowledge is like thirst we think of Emily Dickinson's poem successes counted sweetest by those in there succeed to comprehend a nectar require source need it is the one who is most thirsty that actually understands the value of drink and here of course we're playing with that very notion that word picture notice for Milton it isn't that there's something wrong with the desire for knowledge it's rather inappropriate knowledge knowledge but knowledge within reason of course to some degree we can think of how this squares with Plato's view of justice and temperance balance harmony and all of that well ok so we now continue with Adams request he says in surah Theo likes the 70 through 108 great things and full of wonder in our ears far differing from this world thou has revealed divine interpreter by favors sent down from the Imperium to forewarn us of what might else have been our loss unknown which human knowledge could not reach for which to the infinitily good we owe immortal thanks and his admonishment received with solemn purpose to observe immutably his sovereign will the end of what we are in other words he says we have listened to what you have said and warned us and we will not we will not disobey of course the dark irony here and there's foreshadowing all the way through this is we know how the story ends because of course we know in Genesis 3 is all about right but since thou hast vouchsafed gently for our instruction to impart things above earthly thought which yet concerned our knowing as to highest wisdom seem to deign to descend now lower in relate what may no less perhaps avail us known how first began this heaven which we behold distant so high when moving fires adorned innumerable with us the Stars and this which yields or fills all space the ambient air why interfused embracing roundest florida's what caused moved the creator in his holy rest through all eternity so late to build in chaos and the work begun how soon absolved if unfirm it thou mayst unfold what we not to explore the secrets yet ask of his eternal Empire but the more to magnify his works the more we know in other words if we can only get this bit of knowledge we'll even have more reason to worship God and the great white of day yet wants to run much of his race though steep suspense in heaven held by thy voice thy potent voice he hears and longer will delay to hear thee tell his generation and the rising birth of nature from the UH apparent deep or if the star of evening and the moon hast to thy audience night with all her will bring silence and sleep listening to the will watch or we can bid his absence to thy song in notice he he talks about this instruction as a song and dismissed the air the morning shine in other words Adam is almost a child say just a little bit more just a little bit more I just want a little bit more information if God will allow it I would very much like to know what it is that is the answer to the question shillings question why is there something instead of nothing starting at line 109 raffia will give his warning and will begin now at wine 109 thus Adam his illustrious TSP saw and that's the guy Mike angel answered by it quote this also that request with caution ask obtain though to recount Almighty works what words or tongue of Sarah can suffice or heart of man suffice to comprehend yet what thou has that what thou canst attain which best may serve to glorify the maker and infer thee also happier shall not be withheld i hearing two observations one there are stuff we can talk about we call that linguistic there's stuff that cannot be talked about can't be explained we call that trans linguistic these are terms of course that we've used before rokkyo will say there's a lot i can't explain you just because you wouldn't understand it notice he says however i will to help you glorify the maker and also to be happier i we were just mentioning jefferson earlier and the whole notion of the creator and down by their creator remember that one that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness this is going to be a major major idea in the scientific enlightenment of which of course milton is in many ways prophetic and here he says it right he says how am i gonna withhold it from your hearing such commission from above i have received to answer thy sire of knowledge within bounds let's write it in our notes that's pure milton knowledge within bounds circumspect knowledge right beyond that found beyond abstained to ask nor let thine own interventions hope things not revealed which the invisible king only omniscient has suppressed at night - none communicative Bolen to earth or heaven again we're back to this trans linguistic enough is left beside to search and know to search and no of course to reminds us of Tennyson's Ulysses to follow knowledge like a sinking star beyond the utmost balance of human thought but knowledge to continue with Milton is as food and needs no lesser temperance over appetite to know and measure what the mind may well contain it's an interesting work picture and it takes us back to the notion that knowledge is like drinking knowledge is like eating you can eat then that's good and you have to but you can overeat and that is bad ok known as he continues oppress else with serpent and soon turns wisdom to folly as nourishment to win and this is interesting nourishment to win this is one of those high moments when Milton plays a very interesting game he says if you overeat you have gas and you will you will fart and he says folly is kind of like that one in other words too much knowledge of silliness can lead to folly and therefore intellectual or spiritual farting I hope that we won't be accused of doing that of doing that here but I did I love that light but this just shows you how Milton is having having fun all the way through to continue now starting starting at line 139 where Raphael continues with his with his song I call it a song because it's like a poem all the way through and we have God's speech to his son starting at roughly line 139 to 173 at least our envious foe have failed right God is speaking to the son who thought all like himself rebellious but whose aid this inaccessible High Street the seat of deity supreme us dispossessed he trusted to have seized and into fraud drew a mini whom their place knows here no more in other words Satan rebelled and a lot of Angels got thrown out of heaven yet far the greater part have I kept I see their station I still got a lot of angels heaven yet populace retains number sufficient to possessor realms the wide and this night temple to frequent with ministries do in solemn rites but well I see his heart Satan's her exalt him and their harm already done to have dis people heaven my damage finally deemed I can repair that detriment in other words very simply he says it I am going to create a race of people that will be able to read people heaven but he makes the observation that Eden the world will be a testing ground of a car so you know there's now our answering one of the

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Length: 22min 1sec (1321 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 12 2018