Illustration as Interpretation Illustrations of John Milton's Paradise Lost

Brittany Hill

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Myhill, Nova

Keywords

Milton, John, Blake, William, Dore, Gustave, Martin, John, Medina, John, Lens, Bernard, Aldrich, Henry, Paradise Lost, Satan, Christ, Adam, Eve, Eden, Illustration, Interpretation, Illumination

Area of Concentration

British and American Literature

Abstract

This thesis explores illustration as interpretation in John Milton�s Paradise Lost. It examines the work of four illustrated editions of Paradise Lost in the effort to demonstrate how trends can develop in visual representation and interpretation. These trends can be used to show how the illustrations relate to the text, to the artist�s contemporaries, and to the critical tradition surrounding Milton�s epic. This thesis studies the work of six artists. Each chapter starts by looking at one of works of the three contributing artists to the first illustrated edition of PL (1688): John Baptista Medina, Dr. Henry Aldrich, and Bernard Lens. From there, each chapter chronologically looks at the work of two of three other artists in order to demonstrate the visual trends between the images. These are the illustrations of William Blake (1807-1808), John Martin (1827), and Gustave Dor� (1866). Taking into account the artist�s biographies, critical concerns of their eras, and changes in PL�s reception, this thesis attempts to demonstrate how illustrations can be used as an interpretative tool and a method of critique. Themes discussed include: Satan�s relationship to Christ, Adam and Eve�s relationship to Eden, and who is to blame for the Fall.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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