Quotes by John Milton

--- To be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering.

Paradise Lost

--- We see things not as they are but as we are.

Paradise Lost

--- Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts and eloquence.

Paradise Regained

--- O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies, O worse than chains, dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age!
Samson Agonistes

---Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit That fought in heaven, now fiercer by despair.

Paradise Lost ---He's gone, and who knows how may he report Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?

Samson Agonistes ---Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts And eloquence. Paradise Regained ---Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties. Areopagitica ---Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heaven.

Paradise Lost
---The mind is its own place, and in it self Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.

Paradise Lost
---Throw open all the doors; let there be light; let every man think and bring his thoughts to the light; dread not any diversities of opinion.

Areopagitica

John Milton
I. Brief Introduction to the Writer 1. Life Story Milton was born in 1608 in London. He fights for freedom in all aspects as a Christian humanist. As a writer, as a poet and as a prose writer, he towered above all the other English writers of his time in his revolutionary and humanist views and in artistic achievement. In his life, Milton shows himself a real revolutionary, a master poet and a great prose writer. His achievement in literature made him exert a great influence over later ones. Miltons father was both a scholar and a businessman, who loved music and literature. From boyhood Milton was a hard-working student. He was first educated at the famous St. Pauls School in London. Then he was sent to Christs College, Cambridge, where he acquired a good knowledge of Latin. He was frequently chosen to deliver speeches before students, in which he strongly condemned the subjects and methods of study at the college that would make a person a more finished fool. While at Cambridge he wrote a few poems in Latin, Italian and English. His parents expected him to take orders in the Church of England, but Milton would not enter the church against his conscience. Nor would he want to do some work of the law. He was opposed to follow the trend of civil and religious affairs in his country. After his graduation he retired to his fathers country house. There he devoted himself to study and to the writing of poetry. In 1638 in order to complete his preparation for his literary career, he started his travel on the Continent, through France, Switzerland and Italy. While in Naples he heard that the English Revolution broke out. At that time he was full of thoughts of fighting for human freedom. He cut short his journey and returned to England, where he could lend a helping hand in bringing down King-Charles I and raising up the people. He put his pen to the service of the revolutionary cause, and later of the Commonwealth. Then in 1649 Milton was appointed Latin Secretary to the Commonwealth for the purpose of corresponding with foreign governments. He was in charge of close relation between England and foreign countries. But from childhood the disease on his eyes had grown more and more serious. Now the physicians warned him that one of his eyes was already hopelessly destroyed and a complete rest

from his work could save the sight in the other. He didnt follow the doctors advice and continued to work hard and thus went completely blind by the beginning of 1652. But his blindness did not interrupt the performance of his work. He continued his duty on behalf of the Commonwealth and Oliver Cromwell. Early in 1642 Milton married Mary Powell, but the marriage was an unhappy one. Mary was unable to understand or share her husbands political views. Less than a month after the wedding, she paid her family a visit and refused to return. For the next two years Milton saw nothing of her. His own trouble with his wife led to his consideration of the freedom of divorce on account of lack of sympathy. After the death of Mary, Milton married again. At that time he was relieved of his duties as Latin Secretary and was granted a pension for life. His second wife died in childbirth a few years later. Then something disasterous happended to the English people. The bourgeoisie , having won its struggle for power, was now extremely afraid of the lower class who had helped them to win the victory. After the death of Cromwell, the bourgeoisie had negotiations with Charles II, and the Restoration of monarchy was drawing near. At this critical moment Milton stood up. He published a powerful pamphlet, calling on people to resist the Restoration. The bourgeoisie paid no attention to Miltons voice, and in 1660 Charles II entered London to be the King of England. When the King took the throne, Milton was arrested and imprisoned. He was fined, but finally set free. A fire in London destroyed his house. He moved from place to place until he settled down on the suburbs in London. His blindness forced him to depend on his daughters for help with his reading and writing. And thus living in poverty, he went back to his early dream to be a poet. Each day he dictated his epic Paradise Lost ten or twenty lines at a time. In 1665 the book was finished. For its publication Milton received merely 10 pounds, the waste-paper price. The success of Paradise Lost was immediate. Then another epic Paradise Regained was published in 1671. The sale was less paid than that of Paradise Lost. Samson Agonistes ended Miltons writing life. In his last years he suffered more and more from gout. He died of it in 1674 at the age of 66. Though he lived in persecution, Milton had no lack of friends and visitors. His youngest daughter described him as excellent company, especially with young people. The personal beauty naturally yielded to age and illness, but he seemed always, despite his blindness, to have been careful of his dress and appearance. And study, in spite of fate and of the harm it had done to him,

he never abandoned. 2. Literary Career Miltons literary achievements can be divided into three groups: the early poetic works, the middle prose pamphlets and the last great poems. In his early works Milton appeared as the inheritor of all that was best in Elizabethan literature. Lycidas was a typical example. The poem was dedicated to Edward King. In 1637, Edward King, a young minister, who had been a classmate of Milton at college and he also wanted to write poetry. Unfortunately he was drown at sea. The college decided to publish a memorial volume and Milton was asked to write. He wrote a poem, which was an elegy. The poem began with grief and a feeling of immaturity; then the grief was deepened by the loss of a young poet. With the bitter sense of loss, Milton asked why the just and good should suffer. This kind of feeling changed into a strong desire to seek comfort in art. The climax of the poem was the attack on the clergy, the shepherds who were corrupted by selfinterest and foretold their ruin. Milton devoted almost 20 years of his best time to the fight for political, religious, and personal liberty as a writer. His powerful pamphlets written during this period made him the greatest prose writer of his age. During the Revolution, he used his pen as the weapon in fighting against the king and the Catholic Church. His representative works in this period were Defense of the English People, Second Defense of the English People and Areopagitica. Among which, the last was probably his most memorable prose work. In 1644 the Presbyterian Church in Parliament re-established the censorship of books before publication. This filled Milton with a noble rage. In the form of a speech, addressing to the House of Parliament he appealed for the freedom of the press. The gist of his pamphlet was: Through open all the door; let there be light; let every man think and bring his thoughts to the light; dread not any diversities of opinion. In defending the freedom of the press, Milton fought for a further development of the bourgeois revolution. So Areopagitica, as a declaration of peoples freedom of the press, was a weapon in the later democratic revolutionary struggle. After the Restoration in 1660, when he was blind and suffering, when he was poor and lonely, Milton wrote his 3 major poetical works: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. They all had a Biblical origin and were famous for their magnificence in structure and elegance of language. Many English and European writers are deeply influenced by his writings.

Among the three Paradise Lost is the greatest, indeed the only generally acknowledged epic in English literature since Beowulf. It tells how mankind, in the person of Adam, fell at the first temptation by Satan and became an outcast from Paradise and from the divine grace. The poem was written with soaring imagination and far-ranging intellectual grasp in his most forceful and exalted style. Paradise Regained was a story of human salvation through Christ. The poem shows how mankind withstands the tempter and is established once more in the divine favor. Christs temptation in the wildness and the triumph of Christian virtue over evil are the theme. The successful resistance to temptation points to Miltons Puritanism. On the other hand the poem also has rich political and revolutionary significance, for Christ is in a way an embodiment of a bourgeois revolutionist. Through the mouth of Christ, Milton voices his own wish to rescue his people from tyranny. Though Paradise Regained is Miltons favorite, and though there are many passages of noble thought and splendid imagery equal to the best of Paradise Lost, the poem as a whole falls below the level of the first, and is less interesting to read. The last one Samson Agonistes is the most perfect example of the verse drama after the Greek style in English. Milton employs the Old Testament story of Samson to inspire the defeated English Puritans with the courage to triumph through sacrifice. The theme was more vital and personal. In the story, Samson was an athlete of the Israelites. He stood as the champion fighting for the freedom of his country. But he was betrayed by his wife and blinded by his enemies. He was led into the temple and wreaked vengeance upon his enemies by pulling down the temple upon them and upon himself in a common ruin. Though blind, alone, persecuted by thoughtless enemies, Samson preserves a noble ideal to the end. By using this poem, Milton expresses that he too could bring destruction down to the enemy at the cost of his own life. There is much in common between Samson and Milton. Like Samson Milton has also been unhappy by an unwise marriage, persecuted by his enemies, has suffered from blind and yet is unconquerable. On this sense Samson is Milton. 1. Literary Achievement Milton is a militant pamphleteer of the English Revolution and the greatest English revolutionary poet of the 17th century. He has written the greatest epic in English literature. His influence is in almost all later English poetry. He and Shakespeare have always been regarded as

two patterns of English verse. He is a master of the blank verse. He first used blank verse in non-dramatic works. His matchless daring in experiment introduced variety (variation of pause, connection of lines, etc.) and achieved extraordinary freedom from monotony. In Paradise Lost, he acquires an absolute mastery of the blank verse. Milton is a great stylist. He is famous for his grand style, which is the result of his life-long classical and biblical study. But his style is never exactly natural. It is art attained by definite and conscientious rhetorical device. He likes to use Latinisms and proper names of resonance and color to create an elevated and dignified effect. There are many sublimity of thought and majesty of expression in his works, which include some of the greatest poems of the world. 4.Writing Style In his works there is much theological discussion which seems important to Milton, but which is rather dull reading for modern readers. The chief characteristic of the blank verse used in the poems is the long and involved and sometimes seemingly interminable sentence constructions, so that a passage frequently goes on and on through ten or twenty or even more lines of verse, and the meaning of the whole long thing is suspended and not complete, while clause after clause, phrase after phrase are added to enrich the complexity of thought or to increase the effect of the description till the end of the sentence comes with the period, and only then does the reader grasp the full significance of the entire utterance. He also uses the extreme variety of pauses. In his epic Miltons pauses may come almost anywhere in a line of verse. As a result he is difficult to read. Some people even say that Milton writes no English. II. Brief Introduction to the Selected Literary Work 1. Brief Summary of the Story Paradise Lost Satan and the other rebellious angels awake to find themselves in Hell on a lake of fire. He is lying beside Beelzebub. Satan raises himself from the lake and flies to the shore. He calls for the other angels to do the same, and they assemble by the lake. Satan tells them that all is not lost and tries to inspire his followers. Led by Mammon and Mulciber, the fallen angels build their capital and palace, Pandemonium. The highest ranking of the angels then assemble for a council.

In the council, Satan asks what the demons think should be the next move against God. Moloch argues for open warfare. Belial twists Molochs arguments, proposing that nothing should be done. Mammon, the materialistic angel, argues that they do the best with what they have. Finally, Beelzebub, Satans second in command, proposes that the angels try to get at God through his new creation, Man. Beelzebubs proposal, which is really Satans proposal, is adopted, and Satan volunteers to find the new world and new creatures. He leaves at once, flying to the Gate of Hell. There, he meets his children, Sin and Death. Sin opens the gate for Satan who flies out into Chaos and Night. Sin and Death follow him. Finally, in the distance Satan sees Earth. God watches Satan approach Earth and predicts his success in corrupting Man. Man has free will. But God omnisciently knows what will happen. God adds that Man can be saved through mercy and grace, but he must also accept the just punishment of death, unless someone takes on death for Man. The Son offers to become a man and suffer death in order to overcome it. The angels rejoice. In the meantime, Satan, sitting on the edge of the Earth, cannot see the way to Man. Satan disguises himself as a cherub and flies to the sun to talk with the archangel, Uriel. Uriel shows Satan the way to Man. Looking at Earth, Satan is taken with its beauty but quickly overcomes his sympathy to concentrate on what he must do. He sees Adam and Eve and is entranced with their beauty. As Satan listens to the pair, they talk about Gods one commandment that they not eat from the Tree of Knowledge under penalty of death. Satan immediately begins to formulate a plan. Uriel, on the sun, becomes suspicious of the cherub whose face shows changing emotions and goes to warn Gabriel. Gabriel says that he and his angels will capture any interlopers in the Garden, and late that night Ithuriel and Zephron capture Satan whispering in Eves ear. The two angels bring Satan before Gabriel, who, with Gods help, banishes the tempter from Earth. When Eve awakes, she tells Adam of her troubling dream. Adam comforts her, reminding her that they are safe if they obey God. God decides to send the angel Raphael to warn Adam and Eve to be wary of Satan. Raphael goes to Earth where he eats with Adam and Eve. After the meal, Raphael tells Adam about the great rebellion in Heaven. Raphael says that Lucifer (Satan) was jealous of the Son and through sophistic argument got his followers, about one third of the angels, to follow him to the North. There, only one of Satans followers stood up against himAbdiel, who returned to God. Satan attacks God and the Heavenly Host, whose power has been limited by God. Nonetheless, Gods forces have little difficulty in defeating the rebels. Michael splits Satan in half, which is humiliating, but not deadly, because Satan, as an angel, cannot die. After the first day of battle, the rebels construct a cannon and begin the second days battle with some success. Gods forces begin to pull up mountains and hurl them at the rebels, burying them and their cannons. God is amused at the presumption of the rebels but does not want the landscape destroyed. He sends the Son forth by himself in a chariot. The rebels are quickly herded into Hell. When Adam asks Raphael about the creation of the world, the angel explains the dayby-day creation of the world in six days. Then, in an effort to keep the angel engaged in

conversation, Adam asks about the motions of the heavenly bodies. Raphael explains that Adam should leave some questions to Gods wisdom. Next, Adam describes his own creation, his introduction to Eden, and the creation of Eve. He describes how beautiful Eve is to him and the bliss of wedded love. Raphael gives Adam a final warning about Satan as he leaves. Having been gone from Eden for eight days, Satan returns, sneaking in through a fountain near the Tree of Knowledge. He takes the form of a serpent to try to trick Man. When Adam and Eve awake, they argue over whether they should work together or alone. Eve finally convinces Adam to let her work by herself. Satan, in serpents form, approaches Eve and, using clever but fallacious arguments, convinces her to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. After Eve eats, she reveals what she has done to Adam, who, unable to bear the thought of losing Eve, eats also. Having eaten the fruit, the two are overcome with lust and run to the woods to make love. When they awake, they are filled with shame and guilt. Each blames the other. In Heaven, the angels are horrified that Man has fallen, but God assures them that He had foreknowledge of all that would happen. He sends the Son to Earth to pronounce judgment on the humans and the serpent. The Son goes to Earth and makes his judgments. He adds though, that through mercy, Adam and Eve and all humans may eventually be able to overcome death. In an act of pity, the Son clothes the two humans. Sin and Death meanwhile have sensed an opportunity on Earth. They construct a huge causeway from Hell to Earth. On their way across, they meet Satan returning to Hell. They proceed to Earth while Satan enters Hell in disguise. Satan appears on his throne and announces what he has done. Expecting to hear the applause of all the fallen angels, he instead hears only hissing as he and all his followers are turned into snakes. When they eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge which appears before them, it turns to bitter ashes. On Earth, Sin and Death see infinite opportunities. God, looking down on the two, says eventually they will be cast into Hell and sealed up. Adam and Eve lament, but Eve submissively asks Adams forgiveness. He relents, his love overcoming his bitterness. She suggests suicide as a way to avoid the terrible curse on the world, but Adam says they must obey God. God sends the angel, Michael, to take Adam and Eve out of Eden. Before doing so, Michael takes Adam to a hill and gives the human a vision of biblical history, ending with the birth of Jesus who will be the savior of Man. Adam rejoices. Adam and Eve together are led out of Eden. Behind them a flaming sword guards the entrance; ahead, they face a new life in a new world. 2. Analyses of the Major Characters God God created all things out of Himself, including evil. God is described as a ruler with unlimited power, who is no better than s selfish despot, seated upon a throne and uses those powers wrongly or cruelly. In the poems God is surrounded by his angels, who never think of

expressing any opinion of their own. His long speeches are never pleasing. He is the representative of an absolute monarch. However, the all-knowing God is just in allowing Adam and Eve to be attempted and, of their free will, to choose sin and its inevitable punishment, thereby opening the way for that voluntary sacrifice of Christ. This shows that God is merciful in bring good out of evil. Satan Santan is the central figure in Paradise Lost. He is both human and superhuman. He is someone in whom evil is mixed with good but who is doomed to be destructed by the flaw of self-love. He is impressive, powerful, and immense, looming up as a magnificent figure, a mighty, a terrible, and an immortal Being. Like a conquered and banished giant, he remains obeyed and admired by those who follow him down to hell. He is superior to man, as well in the dignity of his nature, entirely different from the devil of the miracle plays and completely overshadowing the hero both in interest and manliness. He is better than the rest of the angels. It is always from him that deep counsels, unlooked-for resources and courageous deeds proceed. It is he who, passing the guarded gates and boundless chaos, amid so many dangers, and across so many obstacles, makes man revolt against God. Though defeated, he prevails, since he has won from God the third part of his angels, and almost all the sons of Adam. Though wounded, he triumphs, for the thunder which hits upon his head left his heart invincible. Though feebler in force, he remains superior in nobility, since he prefers independence to happy servility, and welcomes his defeat and his torments as a glory, a liberty, and a joy. Satan is the spirit who dares to question the authority of God. The simple Satanist case is that Milton allowed the revolutionary in himself to take root in Santan. Though Milton thought of himself as a Christian, his inner sympathies with rebellion, anger and revolution often color the poem. Satans defiance of the Divine Will is indispensable to the continuance of his identity, a predicament which raise him to tragic status. Adam and Eve Adam is the first man created by God while Eve is the first woman created by God. They embody Miltons belief in the power of man. Their craving for knowledge. This long for knowledge opens before mankind a wide road to an intelligent and active life. 3. Theme of the Poem

The poem, as it is said at the outset, is the Fall of Men i.e. mans disobedience and the loss of Paradise with its prime cause Satan. The purpose of Milton is to expose the ways of Satan and to justify the ways of God to men. At the center of the conflict between human love and spiritual duty lies Miltons fundamental concern with freedom and choice: the freedom to submit to Gods prohibition on eating the apple and the choice of disobedience made for love. The freedom of will is the keystone of Miltons belief. The poem tries to convince us that all-knowing God is just in allowing Adam and Eve to be tempted and, of their free will, to choose sin and its inevitable punishment. And thereby it opens the way for the voluntary sacrifice of Christ which shows the mercy of God in bring good out of evil. But after reading it one gets the impression that the main idea of the poem is a revolt against Gods authority. III. Latest Critical Commentary

2007

 1992 1999 2004

, 1992 2004

 2007 2007 -- , 1999

 17 20042002

1999 Hill, 1979 1999 2007 1975 Lewalski 2005

[1] [J]. 2004 547-52 [2] [J]. 2002 1 42-46 [3] [J]. 2007 2 91-93 [4] [J]. 2005 657-62 [5] 169-76 [J]. 1999 [6] [M]. 1992 [7] [J]. 2007 136-42

[8] Hill, Christopher. Milton and the English Revolution. London: Faber and Faber. 1979 [9] Lewalski, Barbara K. Milton on Women-Yet Once More. Milton Studies. VI (1975): 19