Milton (1967)
Title
Milton (1967)
Original Date:
1804-1811
Facsimile Date:
1967
Publisher:
Trianon Press
Physical Description:
50 leaves ; 29 cm.
Background Information:
Milton was composed by Blake between the years 1804 and 1811; this facsimile was made from copy D in 1967. Union College holds two copies of this work, one of which was purchased with general library funds and the other of which was donated by Hans Rozendaal.
Student Commentary:
Overview: Milton is an epic poem in two parts, with a lengthy preface as well. Its hero is John Milton, predecessor of William Blake and author of Paradise Lost. In the preface to this Milton, Blake nods to ancient Grecian and Roman works by invoking the muse, even though he goes on to frame his poem in Judeo-Christian terms while also invoking his own mythological figure Los. In Book 1, Blake uses the prophetic song of a Bard as a platform for his own ideas about the various components of human society as seen through a Calvinistic lens. He divides humans into classes of Elect, Reprobate, and Redeemed, which he defines as having various levels of narcissistic beliefs, with the Reprobates (in a twist of traditional thinking) having the truest beliefs. John Milton’s spirit falls from Heaven and takes human form in William Blake’s foot (thus rooting him in the earthy body) and the two embark on a spiritual quest to right their sins so that they may enjoy Eternal Death. Book 2 finds Blake at his cottage in Felpham where he is confronted by Ololon, a female spirit related to Milton. The poem ends with Blake contemplating the duality of human nature, as well as the transformative abilities of the human perspective. – Jessica Rosenthal ‘18