The Promethean Politics of Milton, Blake, and ShelleyFor more than two millennia, the myth of Prometheus has fascinated writers and artists. The complex and resonant story of the rebellious Titan who stole fire from the Olympic gods to bestow it upon humanity has remained the prototypical commentary on tyranny and rebellion. Examining the political core of this myth as presented in the poetic tradition, Linda M. Lewis traces Promethean figures and imagery in the major poetry of Milton, Blake, and Shelley. Although the significance of the myth in Western literature has often been noted, Lewis's study is unique in recognizing an ambiguity in Promethean depictions that persists from Greek drama through the English Romantics. While Prometheus is a benefactor and savior, he also takes the role of sophist and trickster. Lewis convincingly articulates this tension and relates it to the ambiguous political relationship between ruler and subject. Drawing primarily upon Paradise Lost, Lewis shows how Milton's use of Prometheus is significant not only because of Milton's undisputed influence on the Romantics, but also because his Promethean figures reflect the myth in all of its facets, from the traitorous Satan and disobedient Adam to the Son in his salvational role. Blake's responses to Milton and to Dante are closely related to his recasting of the Prometheus myth in his prophetic works, particularly through the revolutions associated with his fiery character Orc. Lewis concludes with a chapter on Shelley, focusing on Prometheus Unbound, but also providing a fascinating look at Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which was subtitled The Modern Prometheus. An afterword extends this insightful analysis of Promethean icons by examining those used by suchlate eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century women writers as Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This volume will be of special interest to students and teachers of seventeenth-century studies and English Romantic poetry, in addition to those interested in myth, iconography, and semiotics. |
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Page 58
... Satan . Maud Bodkin draws parallels between Satan's and Prometheus's outbursts of defiance , arguing that the archetypes of the engaging hero are alike in their heroic struggle and endurance against a God identified with the superseded ...
... Satan . Maud Bodkin draws parallels between Satan's and Prometheus's outbursts of defiance , arguing that the archetypes of the engaging hero are alike in their heroic struggle and endurance against a God identified with the superseded ...
Page 59
Linda M. Lewis. counters the argument that Promethean Satan is too appealing . Lewal- ski admits that Satan as allusion to Aeschylus's Prometheus falls within the heroic paradigm - as do suggestions of Faust , the Shakespearean tyrant ...
Linda M. Lewis. counters the argument that Promethean Satan is too appealing . Lewal- ski admits that Satan as allusion to Aeschylus's Prometheus falls within the heroic paradigm - as do suggestions of Faust , the Shakespearean tyrant ...
Page 89
... Satan . As father of guile and perpetrator of fraud , Satan is like the Prometheus of both Hesiod and Aeschylus . In defying a God whose right to tribute and honor is based upon merit ( his goodness and mercy , as well as his ...
... Satan . As father of guile and perpetrator of fraud , Satan is like the Prometheus of both Hesiod and Aeschylus . In defying a God whose right to tribute and honor is based upon merit ( his goodness and mercy , as well as his ...
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Titanism and Dantesque Revolt | 35 |
Prometheus as Icon in Miltons Paradise Lost | 55 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Adam Aeschylus Aeschylus's Prometheus Albion angels argues arts Blake and Shelley Blake's Byron Caucasus chained Christ Christian CPWJM created creator Curran CWPBS Dante Dante's death deity Demogorgon demonic depicted divine eagle earth Edited empire epic eternal evil fallen father figure fire fire-thief Four Zoas Frankenstein fraud Fuzon gift God's gods Godwin Greek heaven hell hero Hesiod hope human humankind iconography Inferno Jerusalem Jesus Jove Jupiter king liberty Luvah Mary Shelley Mary Shelley's Messiah Metamorphoses metheus Milton Milton's Satan monarchy mortals mythology Nimrod Olympians Ovid Paradise Lost philosophical Plato poem poet poetic Poetry political pride Prome Promethean Prometheus myth Prometheus Unbound Prometheus's prophetic punishment rebel rebellion religion Renaissance revolution Romantic Satan savior says serpent Shelley's Prometheus slave soul Spenser spirit suffering Tartarus theus tion Titans Titans and giants Tityus tradition Tree of Mystery Typhon tyranny tyrant universe Urizen wisdom Wittreich Zeus Zeus's