[Milton-L] Desire

[Josh Fischer]

Hello all,

I am a senior English major at the University of Louisville (3.8 gpa) with 
an increasing interest in Milton and "Paradise Lost." I am taking a class on 
Mr. Milton this semester taught by Dr. Dale Billingsley, and it has been 
dynamic. With my previous exploration of "Frankensten" and Mary Shelley, 
coupled with my reading of several essays where Wendell Berry utilizes 
Milton's masterpiece to help his ideas, the poem has engaged me in a way 
that few works have. I am beginning to formulate ideas on a paper and have 
the following questions:

How does "desire" manifest itself in the poem? (As I read the poem for the 
first time this summer, and now again with the class, desire, in all its 
contexts, seems to echo throughout the poem - specifically as it is 
synonomous with ambition and wanting.)

Also, in a second reading I am also "fallen" in that I know the trajectory 
of the narrative and sit in the God-spot, or now I have knowledge, albeit 
obtained discursively versus inuitievely. Does this make any sense? It was 
suggested to me and I haven't been able to wrap my mind around it.

I am not looking for this list to do my work for me, but if anyone has any 
directions they can point me in, it would be most appreciated. I have 
enjoyed the postings on this list for several weeks and thought I would be 
remiss if I didn't post a query.

Respectfully and sincerely,

Joshua Fischer