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July 04, 2007
I H8 MY COMPUTER
I had written almost a page worth about PARADISE LOST and how much I love it when my CPU shut down. I'll try to summarize.
Blah blah blah, working on my paper the last few days, blah blah blah, My teacher is pretty optimistic that I’ll be able to present it at a conference, blah blah blah . . .
After reading Book 8, where Raphael recounts creation, I thought it was one of the greatest things ever written. Then I read Book 9 where Satan tempts Eve. In retelling the most archetypal scene in the history of the world, Milton makes us feel fear, compassion, anger, and empathy, all while dealing with a serpent tempting a naked woman to eat fruit. He doesn't just lean on the traditional impact of the imagery, he expands it into a metaphysical argument - and the story of Eve's entrapment becomes very familiar to all of us. The scene is so compelling because Eve wants what we all want: “Knowledge Forbidd’n.” Satan wants to give her what he wants and what he thinks is best for man, the ability to share God’s thoughts. It is not just a cosmic revenge ploy, it’s an allegorical interaction of world-views. In Milton’s eyes, this is not just a fruit, he probes “Knowledge of Good and Evil” for everything it’s worth. Like Frederick Buechner, Milton reminds us that these are not just stories for the felt-board; it isn’t material for a Summer Steve Carell vehicle.
But Book 10 might be even better. Adam has a soliloquy where he ponders what it means to be fallen; we’ve all had these thoughts, just not this articulate. He questions how he can stand before a perfect God and be imperfect, and wonders if the thought of this will be enough to undo him. There’s an amazing scene where Satan returns to Hell to announce his victory and watches all his legion transfrom into serpents – it reminded me of that terrifying scene in PINOCCHIO (I’m serious!) where all the kids on Pleasure Island turns into donkeys.
But mostly I was struck by this:
Inseparable must with mee along:
For Death from Sin no power can separate.
But least the difficultie of passing back
Stay his return perhaps over this Gulfe
Impassable, Impervious, let us try
Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine
Not unagreeable, to found a path
Over this Maine from Hell to that new World
Where Satan now prevailes, a Monument
Of merit high to all th' infernal Host,
Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse,
Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead.
Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn
By this new felt attraction and instinct.
That Milton has God call salvation “adventurous work” is an ironic understatement, but it is consistent with his decision to make the fall an epic. To Milton, everything Biblical is a story that has informed our humanity and is evidence that God imbues himself in his creation. In a scene that is an outstanding theological parallel to Genesis, God decides, immediately after man has disobey his only command, that he is going to love his creation anyway. Just like in Genesis 3, God announces his forthcoming victory over sin, his plan to renew creation, and his decision to guide the very creatures who just shunned him, to “bridge the gulfe.” “Adventrous work” indeed.
Other news:
I watched the film adaptation of THE ROAD TO WELLVILLE and loathed it. A misfire on every level. More on that later, maybe. Michael Moore continues to irk me, but I have some thoughts about that I might give later. I bought John Cale’s VINTAGE VIOLENCE and love it – of all the great 60s Bands who broke up, he might have the solo career I love the most. I liked last week’s ENTOURAGE on a totally base level. I finished watching Season 2 of ED, loved it, and wanted to punch the wretched Dennis Martino in his stupid, smug face, even though I’m still mad that Ed and Carol got together at the end of the show (remember Frankie? Anyone?) I broke a friend’s weedeater and had to buy another one. I'm starting to enjoy FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS even though the mercury keeps bursting out the top of my kookiness thermometer.
Questions:
Is TRANSFORMERS good? Because I'm probably not going to see it.
Is the new Ryan Adams good? Is anyone going to the show at GPAC?
Links:
The New Yorker's Anthony Lane on TRANSFORMERS. Pretty funny.
Film Freak Central's Walter Chaw loves the new DIE HARD (and TRANSFORMERS). Good stuff.
A really funny segment on THE DAILY SHOW about the Iphone. This Rob Riggle guy is really funny. The final punchline had me really laughing.
A good article on Slate by an ex-NBA player (and recent book publisher) who explains that Kevin Garnett is a great guy and Kobe Bryant is a virus.
| By Andytown | 12:56 AM
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