[Milton-L] Milton and Gardens: queries on JM's aesthetics

[Michael Gillum]

Another angle--actual pleasure gardens were (and still are) enclosed for
aesthetic and other psychological reasons, even in the case of rural gardens
where the enclosure would not be needed for privacy. Even modest designed
gardens today are often provided with a gate or arbor through which to
enter, and that¹s what Pope¹s grotto was for. The great majority of potent
literary gardens are enclosed: ³With walls and towers were girdled round.²

A couple of questions: (1) Are there boundaries in Milton¹s Heaven, other
than the blinding light around the seat of God? (2) Are we ever made aware
of the enclosure of Paradise except during Satan¹s first entrance and the
Expulsion?

Michael


On 6/19/09 5:01 PM, "Alexandra Dimakos" <adimakos at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Susan,
> 
> Your statement "I am not certain of the roots but "Paradise" might come from
> 'walled garden.' " sparked my curiosity as I have been recently researching
> and writing about this idea.
> 
> I've found that in Michael Lieb's article "'Holy Place': A Reading of Paradise
> Lost" that "the Renaissance understanding of the 'paradise' itself --
> pairidaeza formed on pairi ('around') and diz ('to mould,' ''to form') -- not
> only as a 'park' or 'pleasure ground' but also, significantly, as an
> 'enclosure' or a 'place walled in''" (135).
> 
> I also wanted to address Michael's idea or question: "As to why the whole
> Garden needs to be fenced off from the rest of the world."
> 
> Although there are many theories, it seems to me that Eden is fenced off
> because it is meant from keeping Adam and Eve from leaving. I understand that
> many will say that the wall is meant to keep Satan out of the garden. But,
> does it work? Satan doesn't  have much trouble "jumping the fence" and
> entering into Eden. If the walls are there to protect Adam and Eve, they do
> not serve them well.
> 
> In contrast, the walls are meant to keep a curious Adam from exploring the
> outside world. Raphael tells Adam in Book IIX:
>   
> 
> Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there
> Live, in what state, condition or degree,
> Contented that thus far hath been reveal¹d
> Not of Earth only but of highest Heav¹n. (8:166-78)
> 
> 
> The walls may also serve this purpose: to keep Adam from exploring the "other
> Worlds" that lay beyond Eden. Also there is only one Gate that leads in and
> out of Eden, but Adam and Eve are only allowed to cross that threshold when
> they are expelled from their home. They are never told they can freely enter
> and exit Eden at their leisure. There is a great sense of control that stems
> from these walls and this one gate.
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 12:39 PM, Susan Allison <jbase484 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I am not certain of the roots but "Paradise" might come from "walled garden."
>> Of course that is not the only reason but "Paradise" may have retained that
>> meaning.
>> Susan
>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>  As to why the whole Garden needs to be fenced off from the rest of the
>>> world, that¹s an interesting question.
>>>  
>>>  Michael
>> 
>> 
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