Milton and the Parables of Jesus

In Milton and the Parables of Jesus, David V. Urban examines Miltons self-referential use of figures from the New Testament parables in his works of poetry and prose. Urbans informative introduction explores the history of parable interpretation and the writings of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Reformed biblical commentators, including John Calvin, Matthew Poole, and John Trapp, whose approaches to interpreting the parables resemble Miltons own. Urban then goes on to analyze Miltons early poetry and prose; his great epic, Paradise Lost; and his final major poetic works, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. By chronologically tracing Miltons habit of identifying himself both directly and indirectly with figures represented in Jesuss parables, Urban delves deeply into the development of Miltons attitudes toward himself, God, and society. This comprehensive study opens up a new avenue of inquiry regarding Miltons hermeneutic of parables and his writings as a whole. Urbans insightful analysis will be invaluable to scholars and students of John Milton, early modern Christianity and literature, and the Reformation.