Milton’s Education and the Unfallen Subject

Abstract

Milton’s unfallen subject embodies an intact and complete existence because the postlapsarian self-division and conflict have not yet surfaced. Unfallen Adam is able to establish a subjectivity because of his innate and extraordinary mental competence. Reproducing the image of God as it is, which Milton calls “the spirit within thee free”(8.440), this spirit is only bestowed upon free human beings with the ability to act willingly. The key issue is how Adam continues to sustain this spiritual capability in the process of his formation of the unfallen subject. Adam must demonstrate his successful efforts in dealing with various issues as he proceeds with his self-understanding related to the formation of his subject. However, there is a possibility for Adam to make wrong choices, thus failing to form a successful subject. In the sense that Adam’s subject formation is exposed to the danger of desubjectivity, it swings uncertainly between an already formed subject and a not yet formed subject. Because Adam’s subjective perfection is dependent and conditional, he must constantly maintain or reflect its original form and source. Here, Adam needs to go through a process of training and education to solidify the completeness of a given subjectivity. Without education and training, it is impossible that the unfallen subjectivity characterized by God’s providence can be established in any form. Adam reaches the consummation of forming his unfallen subject only through educational enlightenment and progress as shown clearly in the conversation between God and Adam about the necessity of Adam’s partner.