The Trinity of orthodox Christianity is harmonious. The Trinity for Blake is, conspicuously, not a happy family: the Father and the Son do not get on. It might be thought that so cumbersome a notion is inconceivable before the rise of Romanticism but the Ophite Gnostics of the second century AD appear to have thought that God the Father was a jealous tyrant because he forbade Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge and that the serpent, who led the way to the Tree of Knowledge, was really Christ. This book explores the possibility of an underground "perennial heresy," linking the Ophites to Blake. The "alternative Trinity" is intermittently visible in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and even in Milton's Paradise Lost. Blake's notorious detection of a pro-Satan anti-poem, latent in this "theologically patriarchal" epic is less capricious, better grounded historically and philosophically, than is commonly realized.
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"Nuttall is constantly illuminating and informative."--Times Literary Supplement
"Nuttall offers some engaging expositions of familiar material and some useful citations of less familiar lore. Recommended for graduate collections and research collections."--Choice
About the Author
A. D. Nuttall is Professor of English and Fellow of New College, Oxford. His previous books include Why Does Tragedy Give Pleasure? and Dead from the Waist Down.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One the best theodicies ever written.,
By Steve S. Jones (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Alternative Trinity: Gnostic Heresy in Marlowe, Milton, and Blake (Paperback)
It is unfortunate that this book will come off as a literary criticism. To be sure, it is that, but it is much more. The discussion of the metaphysical dilemmas of good vs. evil, of creation, the evolution of heresy, are dramatic, exquisite, and extremely well informed. You will not find information this well researched, this well presented in any theology book I am aware of. Easily one of the most brilliant, engaging books I've ever read. Yes, buy this book if you are into Milton and Blake, but don't miss this one if you are into meaty theological issues. It is too bad the Church doesn't engage these issues on the level presented here. A seminal work to be sure.
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PEOPLE SPEAK of the literary canon as if it were graven in stone. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dynamic virtue, felix culpa, hortus conclusus Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Paradise Lost, Clarendon Press, William Blake, Simon Magus, The Gnostic Scriptures, Cambridge University Press, Adversus Haereses, God the Father, Witness Against the Beast, History of Gnosticism, New York, Loeb Classical Library, Oxford University Press, Apocryphon of John, Collection of Ranter Writings, Jesus Christ, Marlowe's Dr Faustus, Middle Ages, British Museum, Corpus Hermeticum, Crabb Robinson, Francis Bacon, Holy Spirit, John Donne, Luther's Works New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
PEOPLE SPEAK of the literary canon as if it were graven in stone. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dynamic virtue, felix culpa, hortus conclusus Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Paradise Lost, Clarendon Press, William Blake, Simon Magus, The Gnostic Scriptures, Cambridge University Press, Adversus Haereses, God the Father, Witness Against the Beast, History of Gnosticism, New York, Loeb Classical Library, Oxford University Press, Apocryphon of John, Collection of Ranter Writings, Jesus Christ, Marlowe's Dr Faustus, Middle Ages, British Museum, Corpus Hermeticum, Crabb Robinson, Francis Bacon, Holy Spirit, John Donne, Luther's Works New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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