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Metaphysical Poetry Essay, Research Paper

Discuss the uses of metaphors of colonization in metaphysical poetry

and/or Milton.

“Movement across or through space becomes a process

of colonization of that space.”

During the period of Milton’s Paradise Lost as well as myriad of poets

construction of an epoque submerged in metaphysical literature, a

number of significant events both socio-political, entwined with a

systematic religious metamorphism of the sixteenth and seventeenth

century led to a time of unrest and discovery. The creators and

author’s of work of this periods placed their emphasis not specifically

on a level of morality or self understanding but rather a rediscovery

of the body and soul, almost a form of existensionalism or physical

cosmos with a geography. ‘All things are subject to the Mind… It

measures in one thought the whole circumference of heaven and by the

same line it takes the geography of the earth. The seas, the air, the

fire all things of either, are within the comprehension of the mind.

It has an influence on them all, whence it lakes all that may be

useful, all that may be helpful in government. No limitation is

prescribed to it, no restriction is upon it, but in a free scope it has

a liberty upon all. And in this liberty is the excellence of the mind;

in this power and composition of the mind is perfection of a man… Man

is an absolute master of himself; his own safety, and tranquillity by

God… are made dependent on himself.’1 In this short example of

Puritanism text as it stands, alone contains a number of various

references to the process of colonization, of expanding, perceiving all

geographically and manipulating, making man or perhaps more

specifically the colonisers omniscient and God-like. The crusader

self-reliant and independent with the knowledge that God is his

guardian of safety and tranquillity. In this particular the growing

number of Puritans played a significant role both in the cultivation

and transformation of the Christian religion and foreign territories.

The Puritans themselves comprised of those in the Church of England

unhappy with limitations of the Elizabethan Settlement; some were

Presbyterians, and all were to some extent or other Calvinists (though

not all Calvinists were Puritans). They were a people of scrupulous

moral rigour and favoured plain styles of dress, detesting any form of

luxury or decadence. The name Puritan later became a catch-all label

for the disparate groups who led much of the New World colonization and

won the English Civil Wars. New World colonization began as early as

1480 by English seamen performing spectacular feats of exploration

under Elizabeth I. These seamen made various claims of territorial

annexation in America in an effort to outflank their Spanish rivals

however, all foundations of permanent colonies proved abortive until

the early 17th century. Thereafter, there was steady progress in

acquiring territories in the Caribbean and mainland North America.

Much settlement in the latter had a religious motive, with colonists

seeking to escape the constraints of the English Established Church.

As a result, there was an uneasy relationship between many colonial

administrations and the royal government at home. Further to these

tensions the ‘colonies were split in their allegiances during the civil

wars in Britain, but Charles I derived little useful help from those

who supported his cause. The collapse of James II regime (1688-9)

proved a blow to the efforts of Westminster to encroach on ! self-rule

in North America. The relationship between the centre and the colonies

remained problematic right until the War of American Independence.’2

The metaphysical tradition established during the seventeenth century

can find its foundations in the colonization explorations and the

domestic unrest caused by the civil wars. The combination of the two

contextually, both in spirituality, imagery and definitions of time and

space; have the unique effect of creating a devout religious

protagonist’s perceptions of his environment and its history,

encompassed in as often was the case one work of art, as a testimony to

the period and the Church of England. Frequently such works could be

found in the form of poetry, commonly regarded as the most eloquent and

essential part of the English language as a means of communications,

via its plurality, richness of language and syntax. Poets of the era

harnessed the tools of poetry to the spiritual essence of their

communication create an impact of divine, gospel-like proportions,

which were received and regarded as perhaps the most innovative and

highly appreciated works of poetry! to have arisen.

One such poet was John Milton whose epic work Paradise Lost (written in

1667) was ultimately the last and great Adamite3 work. John Milton

(1608-74), was an English poet, the son of a composer of some

distinction. The preparation for his life’s work included attendance

at St. Paul’s School, Christ’s College and Cambridge for several

years. His reputation as a poet preceded him as addressed to the

conscience of Europe. As fame through his work augmented so with it

did his political career. ‘The theme of Paradise Lost (completed 1665,

published 1667) had been in

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