E.M.W. Tillyard's Literary Criticism of Comus, by John Milton

E.M.W. Tillyard argues that John Milton does not intend to be dramatic. "Comus" is a suite of speeches attracting attention by sentiment, imagery, ornamental expression and poetical allusion. No one has ever recognized sufficiently the mixture of styles in "Comus." There are fluctuations of style at the beginning. For example, the Attendant Spirit's opening speech is a Euripidean prologue, and the opening, rhymed of Comus's speech--he begins speaking blank verse with, "Break off, break off, I feel the different pace/Of som chast footing neer about this ground." Milton surpassed the undramatic couplet-writing he used in "Arcades." According to Tillyard, the rest of the speech is not related in style of the Elizabethan dramatists, but dramatic enough for one to be interested in the mask.

Tillyard also states that Milton had motives other than providing a suitable entertainment; it seemed that he used "Comus" for the sole purpose of experimenting with dramatic style, which prepared him for his future works. Moreover, Tillyard argues that Milton could write so tentatively in "Comus," and this is shown in one of the passages, found in the Egerton and Trinity Manuscripts that was omitted in the published editions:

I could be willing though now I' th' darke to trie
A tough encounter with the shaggiest villain
That lurks by hedge or lane of this dead circuit...

Furthermore, according to Tillyard, Milton is a master of creating a dramatic opening to a speech as in the meeting of the Brothers and the Spirit, is tense and entertaining. Also, it seemed that Milton was concerned in his personal life with the doctrine of chastity as mentioned in "Comus." He wrote a letter to a friend that he had chosen celibacy for the time being, in order to focus his attention entirely to self-discipline. In "Comus," there is a reflection of this mystical notion.

I was surprised to find out that Milton really practiced what he preached--chastity, which is reflected in "Comus." I find it fascinating how he strongly believed in and actually acted upon controlling pleasures of the flesh, in order to be more productive in other areas of this life.

I disagree with Tillyard in that Milton did not intend to be dramatic. I think to some extend, he did. Because if there is some dramatization in "Comus," such as the Spirit announcing to the two Brothers that the Lady was in danger, it means the drama was intentionally put in by Milton...just as his style and diction are there, so is the dramatization.

Yes, I found the article very interesting...I truly recommended to another student. After being exposed to a "snapshot" of Milton's personal life and his thoughts, enables me to acquire more of an understanding of his work.

Literature Criticism, volume 9.
Tillyard, E.M.W. "Comus."
An essay from his Milton Study (1930): 178-179.