Monday, August 31, 2015

Tale, Not Truth

As I continue to read Milton's Paradise Lost, I have to continually keep reminding myself that it is a work of fiction and does not have to coincide completely with Biblical truth. One thing that confused me was the presence of Urania, the Muse of Astronomy. I understand that she was there to help explain the creation of the universe, but was she necessary to add? To me, I see Urania as a powerful being that is under the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Why have another character to praise for a portion of creation when God is the ultimate Creator of everything? The story could have gone on without Urania in the story.

A second concept that bothered me that I saw others struggling with is the essence of God as three separate beings instead of the holy Trinity. I guess Milton just wanted to add more substance and fluff to the story. There is a point, although, where lines are close to crossing that questions Biblical truth. Again, I understand that this is a work of fiction, but one can easily read this book and be persuaded to think otherwise than the Biblical truth Scripture offers.

Things I liked were the creation of man and woman. When Adam was created and naming the animals, I never really pictured him never seeing these animals before, but already having the name of the animal in his head because of God. I instead imagined Adam coming up with them on his own, but it clears up the obvious image of God putting the names of the animals in his thoughts that I have overlooked. Secondly, I enjoyed reading the poetic, romantic way Milton described Adam seeing Eve for the first time. He was captured by her. Overall, Milton is incredible at writing beautiful, poetic literature, but I am not impressed with how he steps a little too far from Biblical truth at times.

I commented on Kristina Brooke's post.

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