The human Satan in seventeenth-century English literature

Description:

"Framed by an understanding that the very concept of what defines the human is often influenced by Renaissance and early modern texts, this book establishes the beginning of the literary development of the satanic form into a humanized form in the seventeenth century. This development is centered on characters and poetry of four seventeenth-century writers: John Milton; John Bunyan; John Wilmot, earl of Rochester; and George Etherege. The initial understanding of this development is through a sequential reading of Milton and Bunyan which examines the Satan character as an archetype-in-the-making, building upon each to work so that the character metamorphoses from a groveling serpent and fallen archangel to a humanized form embodying the human impulses necessary to commit evil. Rosenfeld then argues that this development continues in Restoration literature, showing that both Rochester and Etherege build upon their literary predecessors to develop the satanic figure towards greater humanity. Ultimately she demonstrates that these writers, taken collectively, have imbued Satan with the characteristics that define the human. This book includes as an epilogue a discussion of Samson in Milton's Samson Agonistes as a later seventeenth-century avatar of the humanized satanic form, providing an example for understanding a stock literary character in the light of early modern texts."--Jacket.

subjects: Criticism and interpretation,  English literature,  Devil in literature,  History and criticism,  Body, Human, in literature,  Evil in literature,  Human body in literature,  Milton, john, 1608-1674, paradise lost,  Milton, john, 1608-1674, paradise regained,  Bunyan, john, 1628-1688,  Rochester, john wilmot, earl of, 1647-1680,  Etherege, george, sir, 1635?-1691,  English literature, history and criticism, early modern, 1500-1700,  Good and evil in literature,  Démon dans la littérature,  Corps humain dans la littérature,  LITERARY CRITICISM,  European,  English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh,  Early modern,  Duivel,  Bellettrie,  Engels,  Grace abounding to the chief of sinners (Bunyan, John),  Holy war (Bunyan, John),  Paradise lost (Milton, John),  Paradise regained (Milton, John)

People: John Bunyan (1628-1688),  John Milton (1608-1674),  John Wilmot Rochester Earl of (1647-1680),  George Etherege Sir (1635?-1691)

Times: Early modern, 1500-1700