Dante & Milton, Christian Literature

What makes literature "Christian?" 

If we consider the qualifications of a thing or person to attain Christian status is essential to “declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead” (Romans 10:9). To proclaim the gospel includes the following four components: (1) God as creator, (2) The fall of man, (3) Redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and (4) Assurance of faith and hope of eternal life. 

With this rubric, let's assess two infamous pieces of literature: Dante Alighieri, Paradiso and John Milton, Paradise Lost, to determine how Christian their literature is. How much of the gospel is included in their literature?

Starting with Paradise Lost. The literature acknowledges God’s supremacy in “grant[ing] humans power” (pp.908). Through this request, Bernard recognizes that God can possess, grant, and create. As the first aspect of the gospel, creation can be loosely accepted in this literature. Secondly, the fall of mankind is stated clearly in Milton’s literature as, at the outset of this piece, Bernard’s prayer petitions for grace and mercy (pp. 907). Implicitly in seeking grace and mercy, one recognizes the lack or need in their current fallen state. Thirdly and most importantly, Christ is seen sparsely in this particular literature. Mother Mary is addressed repeatedly as the hope for mankind in birthing Jesus, emphasizing Christ (pp.908-909). However, more emphasis is placed on Mary herself rather than Jesus. Though brief, Bernard’s prayer in lines 27 and 33 shows that ultimate salvation is in Jesus, and redemption is through Christ. Lastly, the mystery of the Light Dante experiences appears to be the hope that moves him forward. Perhaps this is the hope of salvation in the gospel.

Moving to Paradiso and Dante’s vision of heaven, the aspects of the gospel are artistically stated. Beginning with creation, “the one who has the power had adorned the heavens with a second sun” (pp.7) and ruler of the “heavens you (God) made” acknowledges God as creator. Secondly, Dante recognizes the humanity and fall of man in his admittance to “doubt” (line 96) and transformation to “light bodies” in heaven (line 99). Again, he recognizes this in lines 132 and 135, “a creature, having the capacity to swerve...in deviation from the better course...diverted by false pleasure.” Moreover, though Christ’s life, death, and resurrection are not explicitly stated in the literature, it can be understood that the vision of God and lack of human memory can include the beauty of Jesus and the redemption of the world (line 9, page 15). In addition, it appears that in line 13, Apollo may be “a figure of Christ” (page 19). Finally, the hope of eternal life is stated throughout the entire literature as it is positioned in God’s light, heaven at the outset.

For these reasons, I would argue that Dante and Milton’s literature is indeed very Christian. The use of artistry and imagery establishes a gospel-centred orientation in the poetic compositions.

Sources: Paradiso by Dante Alighieri, and Paradise Lost by John Milton