Milton's Doctrine of Subordination

Religion was undoubtedly the cornerstone of early
modern culture, playing a dominant role in all
aspects of life. This is clearly demonstrated by the
literature of the period bequeathed to us and is
perhaps nowhere more apparent than in the works of
John Milton, whose poetry and prose are steeped in
religious dogma and scriptural reference. This work
begins with a consideration of Milton s religious
treatise, De Doctrina Christiana in order to first
pinpoint the pivotal core of Milton s theology.
Dvorin shows how this hinges upon the axioms of the
ancient doctrine of subordination upheld by the early
Church Fathers in the first centuries of
Christianity. The centrality of the doctrine in
Milton''s reasoning with regard to political and
domestic issues alike is then demonstrated. Dvorin''s
study delineates that in his championship of the
freedom and independence of the individual and his
sponsoring of the early development of modern democracy Milton was systematically and
paradoxically, preaching a doctrine of subordination.

Autorentext

Ann Dvorin was born in England and has lived in Israel since1979. She studied English Literature, gaining a B.A. degree fromLondon University and an M.A. degree from Bar Ilan University.

Klappentext

Religion was undoubtedly the cornerstone of earlymodern culture, playing a dominant role in allaspects of life. This is clearly demonstrated by theliterature of the period bequeathed to us and isperhaps nowhere more apparent than in the works ofJohn Milton, whose poetry and prose are steeped inreligious dogma and scriptural reference. This workbegins with a consideration of Milton's religioustreatise, De Doctrina Christiana in order to firstpinpoint the pivotal core of Milton's theology.Dvorin shows how this hinges upon the axioms of theancient doctrine of subordination upheld by the earlyChurch Fathers in the first centuries ofChristianity. The centrality of the doctrine inMilton's reasoning with regard to political anddomestic issues alike is then demonstrated. Dvorin'sstudy delineates that in his championship of thefreedom and independence of the individual and hissponsoring of the early development of modern"democracy" Milton was systematically andparadoxically, preaching a doctrine of subordination.