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Paradise Lost (Milton's political views (He believed in a strict…
Paradise Lost
Milton's political views
He believed in a strict social and political hierarchy, in which people obey their ruler and the ruler serves the people.
He considered the actual social hierarchy corrupt, and directly challenged the rule of Charles I.
He was not a fighter, so he expressed his opinion in pamphlets.
He argued that Charles I was not fit to rule because he did not possess superior faculties or virtues.
He believed that power corrupts human beings, and rulers should prove their right to lead other people.
Charles I was king by the divine right. A bad king cannot be removed, as he has God-given right to rule.
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All officials have to act according to their 'job description' and if they act so, his rule is not legitimized, he can be removed.
Religion
He went further and wanted to get rid of all priests, and referred to them as 'hirelings'.
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Milton was a Presbyterian, his religion wanted to remove the bishops.
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In Milton's time the Anglikan church split into the Anglican, Presbyterian and Puritan Church.
He believed that each individual should be his own church, it prompted his break with the Presbyterians.
He advocated the complete abolishment of all church establishments and kept his own private religion close to Calvinism.
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The epic
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1674 The 2nd edition was published, it consisted of 12 books. It contained no substantial addition.
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1658-63 Date of composition, he converted it into a text.
1640 Draft on the fall of humankind, it was never composed or finished; he gave up the idea.
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A poem in 12 books
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Among Protestant and Puritan readers, it was read along with the Bible with spiritual aims.
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Satan is the most important character, a fighter for intellectual freedom and against religious oppression.
Women and marriage
He believed that women should be subservient to their husband, but he distances himself from the belief that women should be avoided because they are essentially evil and utterly inferior to men.
Adam voices this view but only after the fall, out of anger and frustration.
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Milton presents Eve's role important as she and Adam help each other to become better and more complete individuals.
Milton's view on divorce was shocking at his time. It was forbidden but he was a pioneer for the right of divorce.
His portrayal of Eve and Adam after tha fall is an example of his belief that two people can complement each other, smoothing out their faults and enhancing their strength.
Book I
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He asks for instruction, he has darkness in him to be illuminated. The holy spirit can penetrate him.
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