Author Description

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.