The Lonesome Dove Salvation Page
(under construction)
The ideas put forth here are intended for pure philosophical discussion. These ideas do not necessarily reflect my own beliefs. I do not intend to harm, injure, or offend anyone.
Patricia was the first person to clue me on the parallel between John Milton's Paradise Lost, written in 1667. Since she first told me about it, I've started reading Milton's epic poem. So far, I've only read Book 1. My opinions expressed here are related to Book 1. They are not very organized. As I read further into the poem, I will add more and revise this so it makes more sense. Keep coming back for further updates.
Are you feeling a burden lately? It may be that you are in love with Newt Call, but you just don't know it. Check out how I converted to Call. It is enlightening, to say the least.
There has also been much debate over the various character's religious denominations. There are many interesting questions and thoughts relating to this area.
In the "Religion anyone?" segment, we see religion is everywhere in Lonesome Dove -- apples, cardhands, etc. Help me spot them!!!
Finally, there are some fun religious links out there. Check them out.
I am no expert on Milton or the Bible, so if you spot an inaccuracy or wish to make comments, please e-mail me.
Let this be a warning, Mosby gals, to NOT follow this course of action if you want to remain in love with your gorgeous bearded one (to look at Mosby is truly like staring in the sun). This is how I fell in love with Newt Call....
I stood at the back of the church one day with my taller sister, Lisa F. We were in our usual attire -- shades and a black suit (as any good Blues Sisters would be). We calmly waited for the preacher (who looked remarkably like James Brown) to finish, but his fervor was up. He preached incoherently (as James Brown is likely to do), and the whole congregation was into the fervor. People were jumping up and down as the revival music played. Lisa F and I looked at each other in boredom -- this was Penguin stuff -- but then a heavenly light descended upon me. I could see clearly as I had never seen before. Something ... someone... told me about that one and only fact. The good Lord above told me about him -- my man. "Newt Call," I whispered.
Lisa F looked at me. She could not see the light upon me. "What?" she asked me.
Then the preacher asked the congregation, "Do you see the light?" He might have been asking me the same question -- "Do you see the light?"
Lisa F still stared at me quizzically. She did not know what addled my brain. "What, Darcie, what?"
I could not answer. The preacher kept demanding the question out of me, "Do you see the light?"
I could not contain myself any further. "Yes!" I shouted at the preacher. I grabbed Lisa F by the arms and jumped up and down. "Newt Call!" I shouted. "Newt Call! By God, it's Newt Call!"
The fervor had me. My body did things I never knew it could do. I did backflips all the way down the aisle toward the pulpit. There I landed right in front of the congregation. "Newt Call!" I sang out loud. Then I kicked my heels and danced around with the other folks making a joyful noise.
Then I saw a look in Lisa F's eyes.
"Newt Call," she nodded as if she saw the light, too. "Newt Call!"
Lisa F also felt the urge and did backflips down the aisle, and soon she was in front with me. She whipped out her harmonica and started playing an inspirational tune. (We call it the "Newt Call Blues.") Both of us were singing and dancing. "Newt Call! Newt Call!" It was a site to behold.
Anyway, we had a damn good time.
(Catch us as we play at the Curtis Wells penitentiary on Saturday.)
The Premise:
Just suppose that certain LD characters play roles in John Milton's Paradise Lost (PL). How are they alike? How are they different?
| The Players | |
|---|---|
|
Satan . . . . Beelzebub . . . . Adam . . . . Eve . . . . Eden . . . . |
Mosby Robert Newt in TS Hannah Curtis Wells in TS |
The main thing I saw that related to LD in Book 1 was Mosby's parallel to Satan as far as his pride is concerned. Mosby is a study of pride, and so is Satan. I also saw some foreshadowing of what Mosby/Satan was going to do to Adam/Newt and Eve/Hannah.
Milton talks about Satan's role with A and E. This foreshadows what Satan/Mosby will do to A and E/ N and H in TS:
When Milton talks of Satan seducing "them," he is referring to A and E. It is kind of hard to exactly match Mosby with Satan -- because he really only seduced Hannah during the infamous kissing scene in SNOWBOUND. Did Mosby seduced Newt -- I only mean as far as making Newt believe that he was his friend? That is questionable. Mosby and Newt were "friends" -- or, at least, Newt probably regarded Mosby as a peer -- yet Mosby never actively sought Newt's friendship so he could be near Hannah. This is one of the many ways Satan and Mosby are not alike.33 Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt?
After this first part, we see more of Satan's pride. This related to Mosby's own pride:
What is "heaven" ??? Suppose heaven could be equated with the Union, and that the"rebel angels" could mean the Confederacy. In this sense, Mosby can be paralleled with Satan. Mosby and his sense of honor and country (and pride, for that matter) would not allow him to stay with the Union at the time of the Civil War.36 ... his pride 37 Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his host 38 Of rebel Angels ...
Could this also work on a personal level -- did Mosby's sense of pride cast him out from God's grace??? I think Mosby feels damned, but does he blame himself for being damned? This is one of the many questions inspired by reading the poem.
There are other lines in Book I that continue the idea that the South raised impious war against the Union -- and the fight was a lost cause::
Milton talks about Satan and his feelings of torment in hell. Oh the torment! Oh the anguish in TS!!!:41 ...(he) with ambitious aim 42 Against the throne and monarchy of God 43 Rais'd impious war in Heav'n and battle proud, 44 With vain attempt....
Of course, Mosby does feel this way after losing Mary and his country, and the hell that he is in could be a number of things, IMHO. The hell that Mosby was in directly after the war was Reconstruction. He remembers and continues to see the affliction around him. His pride will not allow Mosby to remain in the South -- he flees West. He hates the soldiers that killed and raped Mary.54 ... for now the thought 55 Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 56 Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes, 57 That witness'd huge affliction and dismay 58 Mix'd with obdurate pride and steadfast hate.
I have a problem with exactly matching Mosby and Satan here. Satan hates God. I don't think Mosby hates God -- I think in a way that Mosby feels betrayed.
Anyway, I also don't think Mosby hates all Yankees, either, if you want to qualify what exactly Mosby is hating in this segment. This is another contrast from Satan -- I'm of the opinion he was to hate anything "good" or associated with "God." Does Satan hate everything that is "good"???? (I suppose the rest of Books II through XII will tell me.)
Also, "hell" could also be interpreted here that Mosby's hell is a hell of his own making. "He did the crime, now he pays the time" so to speak. Satan had a hand in what happened to him, and Mosby definitely keeps himself in a tortured state in TS, at least. Look at these lines:
This tends to tell me that Satan is perpetuating his own hell by doing evil. Mosby kind of does this in a way by keeping himself in constant anguish in TS in his obsession with Hannah/Mary). Mosby also does not seem to seek evil to others, as does Satan, which is one of their many contrasting points.214 That with reiterated crimes he might 215 Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 216 Evil to others, and enrag'd might see 217 How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth 218 Infinte goodness, grace, and mercy shewn 219 On Man by him seduc'd, but on himself 220 Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd.
This is about Satan's feelings for God. Mosby does not feel this way:
I suppose you could take this line in a number of ways. Satan felt like he deserved "to be the king" -- now, Mosby, I'm sure, would never feel that way. This is in direct contrast between the two figures.98 ... high disdain from sense of injur'd merit
But I also suppose that Mosby felt like at least he deserved to have Mary to come home to after the war. Mary was taken away from him -- and I think Mosby partly blames God for that.
Does Mosby disdain God? I'm not sure that I get that sense. I think he is respectful of God, yet he feels that he is damned.
Milton talks about Satan's course of action -- this is what he tells Beelzebub and himself:
Also:106 All is not lost -- the unconquerable will, 107 And study of revenge, immortal hate, 108 And courage never to submit or yield: 109 And what is else not to be overcome?
Also:660 .... Peace is despair'd, 661 For who can think submission? War then, war 662 Open or understood, must be resolv'd....
In TS, the revenge motive is clear. Mosby definitely wants revenge in THE LIST. Mosby, IMHO, cannot sustain hate, though. I think he tries, but he fails in that regard.159 To do aught good never will be our task, 160 But ever to do ill our sole delight....
Mosby is also a study of pride and courage here -- he does not want to be conquered, nor will he submit -- as witnessed in THE ROBBERY.
Now, Mosby and Satan are contrasted in lines 159 and 160. Mosby ends up doing good, and he can't help that!!! Poor baby!
Now some words from Beelzebub:
I cannot help but be reminded of Robert during the last part of Ep 3 where he and Mosby are standing all the hill. Robert reminds Mosby that they are gentlemen -- he reminds Mosby of their honor.139 ... for the mind and spirit remains 140 Invincible, and vigour soon returns ....
Okay, Satan talks to Beelzebub about hell:
Now, let's say Mosby was to address Robert here, for the sake of discussion, in TOY. Perhaps Mosby sees CW in TOY as some kind of refuge from the glimmering hell around him.180 Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, 181 The seat of desolation, void of light, 182 Save what the glimmering of these livid flames 183 Casts pale and dreadful?
Let us not forget these lines, shall we? ;)
Well, this goes without saying with poor Mosby!!!261 Here we may reign secure, and in my choice 262 To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: 263 Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heav'n.
Let's talk about Belial (I'm not sure if an LD character that equates to this demon in PL):
Golly, gee. That sounds like the new CW with the AC as the center hub!500 ... when night 501 Darkens the stretts, then wander forth the sons 502 of Belial, flown with insolence and wine...
Okay, here's some imagery:
For some reason, I thought of Mosby's balcony scene in THE ROBBERY when I read this. What do you think?? ;)600 Above them all th' Archangel: but his face 601 Deep scars of thunder and intrench'd, and care 602 Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows 603 Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride 604 Waiting revenge ....
More imagery:
Gosh, this one smacks of REDEMPTION, doesn't it???685 Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 686 Ransack'd the centre, and with impious hands 687 Rifl'd the bowels of their mother Earth 688 For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew 689 Op'n'd into the hill a spacious wound 690 And digg'd out ribs of gold.
Anyway, those are my thoughts of Book One.
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I want to put the various religious quotes and ideas that are expressed on the show. Example:
You've got the idea. I haven't got the show memorized, so help me out by e-mailing me.Mosby in THE BRIDE: Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.
Back to Darcie's Lonesome Dove Page
Thanks, Linda, for the church pic!