John Milton’s Paradise Lost

John Milton (1608-1674) Studied independently for six years in order to become a great poet. Strong supporter of the Puritan Reformation and Parliament rule. Milton felt it was his duty to support the Civil War and Parliamentary Party against the tyrannical rules of kings like Charles I. When the Reformation failed and Charles II took power, Milton “retired” and eventually lost his sight. His daughters helped him write his greatest literary work, Paradise Lost.

Paradise Lost = Epic poem Characteristics of an epic: Begins in medias res with an invocation to a muse. Long, narrative poem. Characters are usually immortal or of great significance. Epic hero is the central character. Contains supernatural creatures who intervene in the tale. Written in blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter. THINK BACK TO BEOWULF AND THE ODYSSEY

Purpose of Paradise Lost Milton states that his purpose is “to justify the ways of God to men.” In other words, Milton’s purpose is to answer the question of why evil and suffering exist if God is in control and good.

Religious Paradise Lost The events are drawn from the Bible, mostly the book of Genesis. The epic asserts that Adam and Eve’s disobedience caused evil and suffering to enter the world, not that God created them. The epic also emphasizes that God purposely let Satan escape from Hell and establish his presence on Earth so that a struggle for goodness to overcome evil would occur.

Satan the Hero Many readers see Milton’s Satan character as a heroic figure. His intensity, persuasion, strength, and rebellion against the tyrannical God help to characterize him as the epic’s hero. Since Milton’s portrayal of Satan as a hero, a noticeable shift has occurred in society’s view of Satan.

Political Paradise Lost King Charles I believed in divine right to rule and dissolved Parliament (not allowing them to meet) so he would have ultimate control. He was overthrown due to his tyrannical rule, yet the Revolutionaries still lost mirroring what occurs in Milton’s work. Political allegory of failed Puritan revolution against the monarchy. Satan leads a revolt against tyrannical God, but fails and is therefore cast out of Heaven and into Hell. Book I of Paradise Lost begins in Hell after Satan’s fall.