Comment on the opening lines of Milton’s ‘L’ Allegro. [British Poetry (2018-19) Assignment 2]

The opening lines of John Milton's poem "L'Allegro" are:

"Hence, loathed Melancholy,

Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born,

In Stygian cave forlorn,

'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy!"

These lines immediately set the tone and theme for the entire poem. The speaker, who is the persona of the "l'allegro" or cheerful individual, is rejecting the dark, somber mood of "loathed Melancholy" and all the "horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy" that come with it.

The opening lines also introduce the contrast between Melancholy and the spirit of joy and merriment that the speaker represents. The speaker is rejecting the morose and despairing aspects of life and seeking a more positive and joyful experience.

The allusion to Cerberus and Stygian cave emphasizes the dark and gloomy connotations of Melancholy, which is portrayed as a monstrous figure born of the underworld. By using such vivid and dramatic imagery, Milton emphasizes the importance of the speaker's rejection of Melancholy and all that it represents.

Overall, the opening lines of "L'Allegro" set the stage for the poem's exploration of the joyful, celebratory life, and its rejection of the dark, somber moods that can oppress the spirit. They establish a tone of exuberance and delight, and signal to the reader that the poem will be a lively romp through the pleasures and delights of the senses.