Jane+Hyun's+Allusions


 * Book III Line 111-134**

//"They therefore as to right belond, So were created, nor can justly accuse Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate, As if predestination over-rul'd Thir will, dispos'd by absolute Decree Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew, Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown. ....I formd them free, and free they must remain, Till they enthrall themsevles: I else must change Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordian'd Thir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall. The first sort by thir own suggestion fell, Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd By the other first: Man thereofre shall find grace, The other none..."//

In this passage, we obtain glimpses of Milton's perspective on calvinist belief--predestination (Duh, he actually mentions "predestination" in the passage). What's really interesting.. is Milton's twisted view on predestination. The God states that he created the men and let them have free will to do however they want to behave. This speech contradicts calvinism, which was quite prevalent in Milton's era. But this is so intriguing,, in a way that the God has the ability to foresee the future, but he still lets the people to choose. Does it mean that he has already selected the ones that will go to heaven? and that they are the ones who ultimately choose to do "good" during the time on earth? It's quite confusing.

by [|sixsteps]