�PAGE � �PAGE �4� Zimmer
Rachel Zimmer
Prof. Graff
Milton: ENGL 420
June 10, 2002
Mockery and Superiority in Canzone:
Supported by Areopagitica
Mockery, as well as a sense of pride and/or superiority comes out in many of Milton's works and he exemplifies this by writing in ways that seems to humble himself, charm the subject of the poem, and yet scoff at him/her at the same time as well as prove his high intellect. Milton's often-circular logic exemplifies his cunning as well as his superciliousness.
He first charms his subject (which also happens to be his reader/audience in many poems-Canzone, Areopagitica, Of Education, The Tenure of Kings and Magistratesâ¦) with words of praise while humbling himself, and tries to win him/her over. "[W]hich if I now first should begin to do, after so fair a progress of our laudable deeds, and such a long obligement upon the whole realm to your indefatigable virtues, I might be justly reckoned among the tardiest and the unwillingest of them that praise ye"(Milton 237).
He then presents his idea or side of an argument while continuing to charm, and insinuates that the audience unknowingly has the same opinion as him. Two examples of this are found in Areopagitica: "For he who freely magnifies what hath been nobly done, and fears not to declare as freely what might be done better, gives ye the best covenant of his fidelity; and that his loyalest affection and his hope waits on your proceedings" (Milton 238). And "â¦there can no greater testimony appear than when your prudent spirit acknowledges and obeys the voice of reason" (Milton 239).
Yet, all of these flowery words are given in very sarcastic tones, as if Milton is having some kind of private joke. By...