Fate versus free will in philosophical debate

John Milton & St. Augustine float

Rebellion against divine authority: Analysis of "Confessions" by St. Augustine and "Paradise Lost" by John Milton

Conflict is one of the main elements present in literary works that helps story development. Conflict is depicted in various situations and kinds, and one common characteristic that these various depictions of conflict have with each other is that each reflects human nature and how it confronts conflicts that come their way in life. An example of one depiction of conflict that is commonly experienced by human society is rebellion against divine authority. This theme is not manifested explicitly in daily human interaction, but rebellion against divine authority is a daily conflict that individuals have to go through. Rebellion against divine authority is evident when one contemplates the morality of his/her actions, behavior, and thoughts. It is also present when the individual experiences emotional turmoil in determining whether his/her life had been lived parallel or against the principles advocated for by the 'divine authority' that s/he believed in.

This theme was especially dominant in the field of literature during the 16th to 17th centuries, wherein the Catholic Church dominated human society in most Western societies. Most literary works created during this period depict the conflict through rebellion against divine authority. More specifically, these works are religious in nature, in that humanity was illustrated as continuously creating conflict with God, the divine authority, through their unorthodox lifestyle and ways. John Milton and St. Augustine were some of the literary writers that reflected this internal conflict with God, as highlighted in their works, "Paradise Lost" and "Confessions," respectively. In line with the usage of this theme in Milton and Augustine's works, this paper posits that their works reflect conflict between humanity and God -- that is, rebellion against divine authority -- through humans' propensity to commit immoral actions and thoughts. In effect, conflict emerges when humanity conduct actions that are considered 'wrong' or not according to the principles of Christianity as advocated and believed by God.

Augustine related in "Confessions" his personal experience as an individual who became susceptible to humanity's weakness to commit immoral actions and thoughts. Recalling his youth, he portrayed himself as constantly rebelling against God, whom he considered as his divine authority. In narrating his act of rebellion against God, Augustine had this to say:

But what was it that I delighted in save to love and to be beloved? But I held it not in moderation, mind to mind, the bright path of friendship, but out of the dark concupiscence of the flesh and the effervescence of youth exhalations came forth which obscured and overcast my heart, so that I was unable to discern pure affection from unholy desire. Both boiled confusedly within me, and dragged away my unstable youth into the rough places of unchaste desires, and plunged me into a gulf of infamy. Thy anger had overshadowed me, and I knew it not. I was become deaf by the rattling of the chins of my mortality, the punishment for my soul's pride; and I wandered farther from Thee, and Thou didst "suffer" me; and I was tossed to and fro, and wasted

Augustine's reflections in this passage brought into fore the fact that rebellion against the divine authority was, for him, through the accomplishment of what he considered as 'immoral actions.' Thus, the "dark concupiscence of the flesh" and "pure affection from unholy desire" characterized his rebellion, where he continued committing these undesirable acts despite his knowledge that they were against the standard of morality or what is considered wrong, not only in his society, but in the eyes of God as well. Augustine's personal narrative showed that rebellion against divine authority happened when he was not able to conform with society and the Church's standards of living a 'moral life' -- that is, life lived according to the Church's standards and principles. In effect, Augustine's direct divine authority was the Church, though he was referring to God in his writings.