As mentioned (in that badly HTMLed writeup above) John
Milton wrote
Paradise Lost as an explanation as to
why bad things happen to good people. To quote him directly,
"I may assert th' Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men."
John
Milton was probably quite interested in dealing with this question in that he himself had his share of
tragedy.
His first
marriage was unhappy and consequently ended,
his second wife died in
child birth,
his third wife died as well.
At the age of 25 he started to go
blind and was completely
blind by age 45. Obviously, this would be devastating for such a prolific
writer as John
Milton was.
How was
Paradise Lost written then? John
Milton would
dictate his works while one of his daughters would write. Coincidently, because of this, his daughters deeply
resented him.
No wonder he doubted his
faith and wrote this
work of art.
Interesting Notes about Paradise Lost -
Beelzebub is most often considered another name for
Satan. However, in
Paradise Lost,
Beelzebub is represented as
Satan's lieutenant who was
"One next himself in power, and next in crime".
Another point of interested would be the fact that
Paradise Lost was written in what is often referred to as
high style.
High Style is when the sentance structure is formed after
Latin grammar. This is why it reads a lot like the
Bible and why most people find
Paradise Lost to be incredibly
boring.
Some quotes that
I found interesting (All by John
Milton)-
- "I may assert th' Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men."
- "The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of hell or a hell of heaven."
- "In Arms not worse, in foresight much advanc't,
We may with more successful hope resolve
To wage by force or guile eternal War
Irreconcilable, to our grand Foe,
Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy
Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n." - Satan
- "Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will
And high permission of all-ruling Heaven
Left him at large to his own dark designs,
That with reiterated crimes he might
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought
Evil to others, and enrag'd might see
How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth
Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn
On Man by him seduc't, but on himself
Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd."
- "Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n." - Satan
- "to try what may be yet
Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell?" - Satan
Please feel free to correct me if any of the information posted here is incorrect. I have tried to make this as factual as I possibly could and am pretty sure that everything that I have personally stated is. However, I am certainly no English or History major.