[Milton-L] Milton and Marx

[Angelica Duran]

Dear folks,

I am wondering if we can indeed say

"Selling his labor as a commodity on the market was obviously not one of the
forces driving Milton's intentions for writing PL in Marx's opinion."

While Milton did sell it for 5 pounds, perhaps he was hoping it would sell
for more.  We don't have evidence one way or another, do we?  I am perhaps
influenced by having just finished some summer research at the John
Steinbeck Collections in California. I would not have guessed that the Nobel
Prize in Literature Award-winning author spent so much time worrying,
haggling, etc. with payments, royalties, financial compensation.  His early
works, too, sold for little, but with Steinbeck we have evidence that he was
working towards a creating a commodity on the market.

Also, I'd like to get just a little underneath the general strand of the
conversation. Some of you have well-published creative writers on your
department faculty: I am lucky enough to have some.  Of course they have
followed their predilections in what they do for a living, i.e. to earn
income and to feel fulfilled.  It's been perhaps too long since I read Marx,
but I remember thinking that Marx understood that enjoying labor and
participating in the market or a capital-based economy could be compatible.

Adios,
Angelica Duran




> From: James Rovira <jamesrovira at gmail.com>
> Reply-To: John Milton Discussion List <milton-l at lists.richmond.edu>
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:34:19 -0400
> To: John Milton Discussion List <milton-l at lists.richmond.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Milton-L] Milton and Marx
> 
> Who said anything about writing poetry not being an "inherently social
> activity"?  Who aetherialized Milton?  The point is the existence of
> his poetry as -capital-, or as meaningful labor to be exploited for
> profit.  There are plenty of social activities that we engage in for
> reasons other than profit, such as being polite to a wrong number
> calling.  Marx emphasized that he wrote this immense epic then sold it
> for 5 pounds.   Selling his labor as a commodity on the market was
> obviously not one of the forces driving Milton's intentions for
> writing PL in Marx's opinion.
> 
> Whether or not Marx's point is an accurate description of Milton's
> practice is another matter.  But that seems to be Marx's point.
> 
> Jim R
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