Greek and "The Lady of Christ's College": Latin–Greek Code-Switching in John Milton's Prolusion VI.

Abstract

This article explores the Latin–Greek code-switching in arguably the most famous passage of all Milton’s Prolusions: the autobiographical section in which Milton addresses his peculiar nickname at Christ’s College, Cambridge: the “Lady” (Domina). Milton’s transitions from Latin into Greek are not simply ways of heightening the Latin oration’s erudite register, but rather Milton’s Latin–Greek code-switching is part of a wider rhetorical strategy which he employs for conveying states of change, transition, and transgression especially with respect to gender and masculinity. This article scrutinizes the allusive texture of Milton’s forays into Greek in Prolusion VI and explores what this can reveal about the young Milton’s self-representation. Despite the prominence of Greek in the autobiographical section of Prolusion VI, the specific role that Greek plays within Milton’s design of one of the most significant and challenging revelations that Milton ever makes about himself has not been an object of study before.