The Poet John Milton and the Significance of “Paradise Lost” 

A

             John Milton is one of the most praised poets to come from England, and he’s particularly famous for his epic poem “Paradise Lost”. This incredibly long poem is considered Milton’s “major work” by many scholars, and it secured him a spot as a major international poet, alongside Virgil, Homer and Dante. Published in 1667, this long poem has captured the attention of many due to its unique topic and masterful use of poetic form. Over time, it has inspired many other poets and artists, and it continues to provoke much debate and scholastic enquiry by academics around the world.   

B

             Although Milton’s famous poem isn’t autobiographical, scholars believe that his education and personal setbacks contributed to the thematic formation of “Paradise Lost”. The product of a middle-class British family in London, Milton was well-educated and studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he was training to join the clergy after graduation. Fluent in several languages, he began reading and writing poetry in Latin, Italian and English, and eventually decided to leave college, no longer interested in the priesthood. Instead, Milton retreated to his family’s country home for six years and rigorously educated himself to become a poet by submerging himself in classic and modern texts on such subjects as politics, philosophy, religion and science. These topics which fascinated Milton as a young man formed a strong foundation for the poems he would write during the rest of his life, especially “Paradise Lost.”  Another major influence on his work may have been the several personal setbacks he experienced during his lifetime, including the death of two wives and the loss of his eyesight. Many critics argue that these personal tragedies may have inspired Milton’s interest in the presence of evil in the world, explicitly captured in his portrayal of Satan in “Paradise Lost”.     

C

           Thematically, “Paradise Lost” is a rather unique work of art that challenged the status quo of poetry in his day. The tradition of epic poetry is to tell the tale of martial heroism, such as being a courageous solider or winning major battles. However, Milton’s epic poem is about a kind of spiritual heroism. It is a poetic retelling of Satan’s fall from grace, the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and their subsequent expulsion from paradise. In the beginning of the poem, Milton states that it was written to “justify the ways of God to men.” The battle that ensues throughout the poem is between good and evil, rather than two warring armies. Another reason that Milton’s poem was so revolutionary was because he included controversial ideas in his poems. For example, “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n” is a now famous line that offended many of his Christian readers during the 17th century, but which is now associated with Milton’s radical style.    

D

The length and form of “Paradise Lost” is another reason why it has sustained the test of time as one of the truly great poems written in English. The original version is over 10,000 lines long and consists of ten books. A revised, second edition was released in 1674 with an additional two books and an explanation from Milton about his choice to avoid rhyming throughout the entire poem. Milton used a form known as “blank verse”, although because of Milton’s popularity and the epic scale of “Paradise Lost”, many critics refer to “blank verse” as “Miltonic verse.” Basically, this consists of lines of poetry that are written in a regular meter, but which do not rhyme. It is a common form used by many English poets, however, Milton used it with such virtuosity, that he is often chosen as the best example of how to write in blank verse. 

E

Despite being a deeply religious man, Milton may have written better about the Devil than about God. In fact, since “Paradise Lost” is based on such powerful characters, lesser poets may have failed to capture their complexity, yet Milton has been applauded for his portrayal of Satan. Even William Blake, a famous poet and painter, once remarked, “The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels and God, and at liberty when of Devils and Hell, is because he was a true Poet, and of the Devil’s party without knowing it.” Satan is often referred to as the protagonist of “Paradise Lost”, because the majority of the text is from his perspective, and some scholars align the character of the Devil with Milton himself. The eloquent, impassioned and persuasive speeches of the Devil in the poem are written so well that they’re the some of the most convincing passages of the entire poem.

F

           Milton’s “Paradise Lost”, however, wasn’t written until the end of Milton’s life. And to say that it was “written” is somewhat of a misnomer because he was, at that point, completely blind and had to orate the entire poem so that it could be written by someone else. This feat adds to the startling display of Milton’s talent as a writer.