A Different Kind of Muse // Emmett Bryant

 I have always loved Milton's Paradise Lost because it gives a very poetical take on the fall of man and the loss of paradise. As Milton's book opens he writes not through himself but a muse. When we think of a muse, I know all of our minds go to the great ancient classical poets who were thought to inspire and speak through generations after them, but that was not the muse that spoke to Milton. No, the muse that spoke to him was the Holy Spirit. I absolutely loved this because he takes a pagan concept but shows its true fruition in Christianity. We see someone being inspired to be creative and write a work such as Paradise Lost. In modern times much of Christian literature gets a bad rap (and sometimes it actually is not that good) but we can look to giants such as Milton and see their fantastical works that have inspired generations after them. I truly only think that is possible because he truly let the Spirit guide him to write such an amazing literary work. It is a work that will not soon be forgotten and will be read and examined for decades to come. 

I commented on Braylan's post and on Elijah Mahn's post. 

Comments

  1. Abigale BellSeptember 6, 2021 at 5:02 PM

    Hi Emmett, great post! I too saw the connection between Milton's muse and that of the ancient writers. I find it interesting and so fitting that Milton would reference the Holy Spirit as his muse. This Christian take on a classic epic would not be the same without Milton's acknowledgement of the One who inspired the original story of the world.

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