Pastoral Visions of Spenser and Milton

Abstract

Through the use of pastoral modes, Spenser and Milton arrive at the same message in their respective epics. Spenser's problematic hierarchical world was allegorized as the fairy land where the queen and courtiers were running errands in pursuit of virtue. Spenser does not endorse his courtly patron's life as fictionalized in the story of Belphoebe and Timias. In his depiction of the courtier's world, he saw much in need of reparation, at least which he didn't find reason to embrace as morally admirable. Spenser and Milton's use of pastoral settings provide reasons to approach their respective epic through an understanding of their moral concern. In Milton's case, his ardent moral seriousness as a national poet to inculcate a nation found its venue in his religious contemplation of God's ways for men.For Milton, freedom of conscience is the most important virtue a Christian man can wish for, and it can be achieved only through the grace of God, and no earthly authority can intervene with an individual in their choice of what is to be believed as true authority and what is false. In Milton's Arminian faith, Grace is given freely to all individuals, but it is again resistible by those who do not choose to accept it. Only after the repentance of the soul, freedom is found again. Under circumstances that harshly repressed authors' criticism of courtly or political corruption, Milton and Spenser found means to attack whatever was against the rules of humanity, in their respective view, and in this sense, Milton is the true inheritor of epic tradition established by Spenser.