[Milton-L] Desire

[Carol Barton]

Hello, Joshua, and bravo!

This is an interesting question, and one you should have an enjoyable 
time exploring. I suspect you will get more out of the answer if, for 
the moment, you disregard the critical essays that may influence your 
thinking, and instead investigate the ways in which the various 
etymological meanings of "desire" in all of its forms appear in 
_Paradise Lost_, from Lucifer's "desire" for supremacy to the early 
Satan's supposed "desire" to know Mankind better, to Adam's "desire" 
for a mate and Eve's "desire" for equality, and so on. I have another 
question for you: to what extent is desire (and desire for what?) a 
part of the respective falls of Lucifer, the reprobate angels, and 
Adam and Eve? To what extent is desire (and desire for what?) a part 
of the exaltation of the Son, Abdiel's victorious confrontation with 
Satan, and the salvation of Adam and Eve?

You can, as has already been suggested, find many good essays and 
articles on subjects related to those questions--but I think if you 
arm yourself first with the answers to those three questions, you will 
know what *you* think before you examine what anyone else has said.

Best of luck with your research! You are definitely headed in the 
right direction.

All good wishes,

Carol Barton