Milton's Eschatological Hope in Paradise Lost

當代學術評論密爾頓在《失樂園》中對政治及宗教的態度大致可分為三個閱讀取向：內在樂園取向、政治行動取向和第二樂園取向。但這些取向忽略了第十一卷和第十二卷中絕望的議題。本論文的主要目的是分析密爾頓及其當代英國人的末世觀點。我認為在第十一卷及第十二卷的歷史啟示中希望與絕望並列，反映出密爾頓對當時宗教及政治群體錯誤的末世觀提出挑戰：主要是長老會，第五君主制擁護者及桂格會。透過天使米迦勒及亞當的對話，密爾頓解構其當代錯誤的末世希望並試圖重建真正的末世盼望。Modern studies of Milton’s attitude toward politics and religion in Paradise Lost generally concern three issues: the inner-paradise, the political action, and the second-paradise. However, these concerns fail to address the issue of despair in Books 11 and 12. The aim of this thesis is to analyze Milton and his contemporary eschatological views. I argue that the juxtaposition of hope and despair in the revelation of history presented in Books 11 and 12 reflects Milton’s questioning of the eschatological beliefs of his contemporaries: mainly the Presbyterians, Fifth Monarchists and Quakers. Through dialogue between Michael and Adam, Milton deconstructs the eschatological hope of his contemporaries and tries to establish a true eschatological hope