History and the Poetic Quest of Civic Vision: Milton's Sonnets 15, 16 and 17
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In Sonnets 15, 16 and 17, Milton is concerned with the ways in which historical events and enlightened leadership correspond. During the period that these sonnets were written, Milton maintains hope that his country will build up the commonwealth and realize republican ideals and religious tolerance. This hope is considered a proper response to God's providential plan and the Good Old Cause. However, caught between the Cause and their own partisan interests or private desires, the English people fail to carry out their historical mission. To cope with the distortion of historical progress, Milton relies upon the leadership of a wise minority, whom he believes will be used by God as His instrument, to settle the hot issues of the day, including true reformation and liberty. Milton expects the strong leadership of an enlightened few in the heroes of the sonnets, Fairfax, Cromwell and Vane. As proven leaders through great achievements such as military victories or successful diplomatic negotiations, they are also aware of civic vision as the theoretical foundation of ethical responsibility to undertake the historical mission given to England. Civic vision is a key notion for representing a new ethos of republican ideals and virtues to replace slaved, state-controlled morality and principles. Thus, in these sonnets Milton emphasizes the importance of individuals, equipped with civic vision, to deliver England from its ruin and miseries, in a period of urgent issues, political and religious, which could be solved only by the known excellence of a minority than the uncertain virtue of the majority. As described in the sonnets, a succession of corrupt events block the realization of republican aims: Parliament's financial fraud, the restriction of religious freedom, the diplomatic and military conflicts between England and Holland, and the difference between spiritual and civil power. In this situation, Milton urges Fairfax, Cromwell, and Vane as de facto leaders to intervene in these events and exercise their powers to rectify the mismanagement of affairs. Milton considers their influential actions to be the best way to deal with these issues and actualize civic vision. Here lies the importance of Milton's civic vision and its historical embodiment.
Abstract
In Sonnets 15, 16 and 17, Milton is concerned with the ways in which historical events and enlightened leadership correspond. During the period that these sonnets were written, Milton maintains hope that his country will build up the commonwealth and realize republican ideals and religious tolerance. This hope is considered a proper response to God's providential plan and the Good Old Cause. However, caught between the Cause and their own partisan interests or private desires, the English people fail to carry out their historical mission. To cope with the distortion of historical progress, Milton relies upon the leadership of a wise minority, whom he believes will be used by God as His instrument, to settle the hot issues of the day, including true reformation and liberty. Milton expects the strong leadership of an enlightened few in the heroes of the sonnets, Fairfax, Cromwell and Vane. As proven leaders through great achievements such as military victories or successful diplomatic negotiations, they are also aware of civic vision as the theoretical foundation of ethical responsibility to undertake the historical mission given to England. Civic vision is a key notion for representing a new ethos of republican ideals and virtues to replace slaved, state-controlled morality and principles. Thus, in these sonnets Milton emphasizes the importance of individuals, equipped with civic vision, to deliver England from its ruin and miseries, in a period of urgent issues, political and religious, which could be solved only by the known excellence of a minority than the uncertain virtue of the majority. As described in the sonnets, a succession of corrupt events block the realization of republican aims: Parliament's financial fraud, the restriction of religious freedom, the diplomatic and military conflicts between England and Holland, and the difference between spiritual and civil power. In this situation, Milton urges Fairfax, Cromwell, and Vane as de facto leaders to intervene in these events and exercise their powers to rectify the mismanagement of affairs. Milton considers their influential actions to be the best way to deal with these issues and actualize civic vision. Here lies the importance of Milton's civic vision and its historical embodiment.
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