Context of Paradise Lost by John Milton Essay

Poet and political activist John Milton after a period of radical political revolution, unearthly turmoil, and his near execution published the twelve hold edition of heaven Lost, a poem describing the biblical text of Genesis filled with hidden political meaning. Paradise Lost enraged those who supported the retort of Charles II, was praised by seekers of religious toleration, and attacked by the Anglican Church. Critics denounced Paradise Lost for its construction, subject, and political meaning.England in the seventeenth century was a land of political instability and religious persecution. Dissention among the British people began during the reign of the Stuart, Charles I (1629-1640). Charles I along with kings in France, Spain, and Germany created absolute monarchies (Cheyney 419). Charles I in 1629 dissolved Parliament, and ruled 11 geezerhood without Parliament. Charles I was a member of the Anglican Church, and didnt sympathize with various sects of Christianity that wer e persecuted by Anglicans (Cheyney 419).These sects included Puritans, Quakers, Scottish Presbyterians, and Catholics. In response to Charles religious intoleration Scottish Presbyterians threatened the incline border, Irish Catholics rebelled, and Oliver Cromwells Calvary attacked the Royalist army. Cromwell and the Scotch defeated the Royalists at Marstoon Moor on July 2, 1644 (Cheyney 434-444). Parliament took control of the new English Commonwealth in 1649, resulting in the beheading of Charles I (Halliday 118).The English Commonwealth however was short lived. In 1653 Oliver Cromwell, took control of the Commonwealth. Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament (Parliament that took over after Charles I), taxed Royalists, jail mutineers, crushed Irish rebels, routed Scottish rebels at Dunbar and Worcester, secured colonies in the Caribbean such as Jamaica, and defeated the Dutch regaining British naval superiority (Halliday 120-122). Cromwell died in 1658 go forth the control of E ngland to rival generals. During Cromwells military rule however, religious toleration was achieved. In 1660 the Stuarts reign was restored, as Charles II assumed control (Cheyney 513).Milton during the fourth dimension of revolution against Charles I was an independent. Independents were a political party formed during mid seventeenth century.Independents were proponents of religious toleration and did not believe in rule under a state religion Anglican, Presbyterian, Episcopal, or Papist (Cheyney 448). Milton was proponent of religious toleration, an opponent of one-man rule, and a believer in mans free will. Milton disagreed with the Calvinistical theory of Predestination and believed that man should be free to will and will the good (Faggen 269-270).Miltons belief of free will also was app arnt in his political views. Milton was a republican and believed in a republican government for England. During Cromwells reign, Milton military serviced as his Latin Secretary, charged with translating diplomatic correspondence into Latin. In the years before the restoration of Charles II, Milton published a series of political pamphlets urging republicanism and refusing monarchial and despotic governments. These pamphlets included The Aeropagitica, Eikonoklastes, and The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (Faggen 270-271).Miltons political and religious views are amalgamate into the text of Paradise Lost. One interpretation of Paradise Lost explains the text as a dramatization of the balance between liberty and obedience. Milton demonstrates using the hail of man and the angels as examples of disrupting the balance between freedom and servitude. fiend is the tragic hero of the poem and is considered by many as an allegory for the English Monarch, the Papacy, or extreme individualism. Early in the poem the Tempter is a revolutionary hero rebelling against a brutal tyrant. Later in the poem, Satan himself becomes a charismatic tyrant (Faggen 279-280). Satan prais es uprising and complete sovereignty meanwhile undermining the idea of servitude. Satan states,Here at leastWe shall be free th omnipotent hath not builtHere for his envy, will not drive us henceHere we may reign secure, and in my choiceTo reign is expense ambition though in HellBetter to reign in Hell, than serve in Heavn. (Book I 258-263)Satans choice to rebel contradicts Calvins theory of Predestination. Miltons exploration of original sin also transforms into an exploration of choice. paragon, according to Miltons explanation has given free will to man and the angels (Faggen 281). beau ideal does punish the dissenting angels. God is portrayed as a monarch, so how could God create choice and freedom as a monarch? Milton has God explain,I formed them free, and free they must remain,Till they enthrall themselves I else must changeTheir nature, and revoke the high DecreeUnchangeable, Eternal, which decreedTheir freedom they themselves ordained their fall. (Book III 124-128)Bot h Miltons critics and Satan are troubled by the futility of a Gods rule over man and/or angels that are free to chose their own fate. Miltons God explains in Book III that the abiding principle of his justice is freedom, and without freedom servitude would be meaningless. In other words, utility to God is working for your own freedom. Milton explains also later in the poem, after the fall of the angels that God created the Earth and man to repopulate heaven. Mans job was to serve God without ambition, to gain freedom in heaven (Faggen 281).Paradise Lost can also be examined with respect to the larger social context of point Interregnum/Restoration England. Satan is combined extensively with anti-papist images, suggesting a strong anti-Catholic sentiment throughout the poem. Taking a Royalist position, Satan can also be considered as an allegory for Oliver Cromwell. Royalists supported both Charles and werefirm believers in the Divine Right of Monarchs. Royalists believed that God himself put leaders into power and that both Charles were Divinely guided. plainly an act of Satan (Cromwell) would rebel against God. This battle between God (Charles) and Satan (Cromwell) is similar to the rebellion in heaven (Achinstein 404). Milton however may have use this moderately obvious allegory to conceal a more meaningful sub-allegory.One interpretation suggests that Satan and the angels are a metaphor for Cromwell and the revolution. In Paradise Lost, Milton never assumes the presence of evil in the absence of good. Satan has rebelled against a tyrant, God who has total control over heaven. Satan rebels due to hatred of tyranny not hatred of God. Satans theoretical rebellion is justified according to Miltons republican views. The actual act of the rebellion however, begins a fight in heaven that is intensely violent. After gaining leadership in Hell, Satan himself becomes a tyrant, similar to Cromwell dissolving the Rump Parliament (Achinstein 405). Milton damns Satan s tyranny not because it is Satans, because it is tyranny.Milton believes that tyranny over the individual conscience is the sin that Satan commits. Satan forces conformity and conformity is sin. Milton seems to suggest that the regime in England during Charles I reign was same as heavenly politics, and Cromwells reign is the same as Satans. He parallels man to the angel, in that Cromwell and the rebellion was rebelling for the right cause, however was not ready morally to deal with the power. Similar to Satan, Cromwell and the rebellions sin was ambition and tyranny over republicanism and self-government (Achinstein 405-407). repayable to Miltons involvement of Cromwells Regime (1653-1658), Miltons books and political pamphlets were burned after the restoration of Charles II. Milton narrowly escaped death after being condemned in 1660 for treasons and offenses by the king (Achinstein 320). After the publication of the twelve-book edition of Paradise Lost in 1674, Milton again fou nd himself in political trouble. Royalists attacked the poem for its hidden political meaning, and the Anglican Church attacked it for its religious brazenness. Milton had chosen a daring topic, and had taken enormous ideological liberties. Milton had not damned Satan as evil, and had called God a tyrant(Achinstein 325).Assuming that Satan was an allegory for King Charles I, Royalists called for Miltons execution. John Dryden, in The State of Innocence (1673-1674) rejects Miltons adaptation due to self conventionalize liberty. However, Andrew Marvell, in a prefatory poem defended Miltons Paradise Lost. Using rhyme, Marvell defended Miltons choice to use blank write instead of rhyme. Blank verse was associated with political allegory, synonymous with religious dissention.Marvell keeps the defense at a literary form, in an attempt to hide a hidden political meaning in Paradise Lost. Dryden also chastised Milton for using individual brainchild. Dryden says inspiration is represented by prophetic utterances were dangerous misapplications of individual intention (Achinstein 326). Marvell claims that the solution to Drydens problem with inspiration is up to the judgement of the reader. Marvell states that Milton may be inspired however the reader must judge if the inspiration is false (Achinstein 327).In Paradise Lost, John Milton parallels the Satans rebellion and fall from heaven with the period of revolution in England after the reign of Charles I. Using the biblical text of Genesis Milton explores republican ideals of conscience and self-government, the balance between servitude and freedom, and the problems of ambition and pride. Milton also analyzes what went wrong with the revolution lead by Oliver Cromwell in 1649.