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The “Holy Dictate of Spare Temperance”: Virtue and Politics in Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle

Publication ,  Journal Article
Giugni, A
Published in: Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies
May 1, 2015

This essay analyzes the treatment of temperance in Milton’s early entertainment, A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle, within the context of the history of virtue ethics. It argues that Milton combines Aristotle’s version of temperance with Plato’s epistemology. In the masque, the Lady’s Platonic vision of the virtues is central to the formation of her temperate judgment. However, by foregrounding Plato’s account of motivation, Milton bypasses the central role that habituation plays in Aristotle’s understanding of education in the virtues. Milton’s suppression of the importance of habit allows him to depict the Lady’s development in the virtues as being independent of concrete social and political communities. The account of the virtues presented in A Masque anticipates some of the central aspects of Milton’s later attacks on the political reasoning of the English people.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

DOI

EISSN

1527-8263

ISSN

1082-9636

Publication Date

May 1, 2015

Volume

45

Issue

2

Start / End Page

395 / 418

Publisher

Duke University Press

Related Subject Headings

  • Literary Studies
  • 2103 Historical Studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies
 

Citation

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Giugni, A. (2015). The “Holy Dictate of Spare Temperance”: Virtue and Politics in Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle. Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, 45(2), 395–418. https://doi.org/10.1215/10829636-2880947
Giugni, Astrid. “The “Holy Dictate of Spare Temperance”: Virtue and Politics in Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle.” Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies 45, no. 2 (May 1, 2015): 395–418. https://doi.org/10.1215/10829636-2880947.
Giugni A. The “Holy Dictate of Spare Temperance”: Virtue and Politics in Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle. Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. 2015 May 1;45(2):395–418.
Giugni, Astrid. “The “Holy Dictate of Spare Temperance”: Virtue and Politics in Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle.” Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, vol. 45, no. 2, Duke University Press, May 2015, pp. 395–418. Crossref, doi:10.1215/10829636-2880947.
Giugni A. The “Holy Dictate of Spare Temperance”: Virtue and Politics in Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle. Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Duke University Press; 2015 May 1;45(2):395–418.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

DOI

EISSN

1527-8263

ISSN

1082-9636

Publication Date

May 1, 2015

Volume

45

Issue

2

Start / End Page

395 / 418

Publisher

Duke University Press

Related Subject Headings

  • Literary Studies
  • 2103 Historical Studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies