Difference between revisions of "John Milton"
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He was a graduate of Christ College, Cambridge. | He was a graduate of Christ College, Cambridge. | ||
| − | He was an opponent of King [[Charles I]] and | + | He was an opponent of King [[Charles I]] and a leading spokesman for [[Oliver Cromwell]]. In politics he advocated [[republicanism]] and a form of [[Libertarianism]]. Kings were not needed to make a nation, he argued, because it was the cirtue of the people that mattered: |
| + | :The happiness of a nation consists in true religion, piety, justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude and the contempt of avarice and ambition. They in whomsoever these virtues dwell eminently, need not kings to make them happy, but are the architects of their own happiness, and whether to themselves or others are not less kings. | ||
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| + | Milton's ''Areopagitica'' (1644) strongly condemned the censorship of ideas and has become a canononical work regarding [[Freedom of Speech]]. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 09:17, October 30, 2009
John Milton (1608-74) was an English poet and writer; he was the chief literary spokesman for the Puritan revolution. Milton's most famous work is the epic poem Paradise Lost; many experts consider it the greatest epic poem in the English language. The poem was written in blank verse in 1658-63, when Milton was totally blind and in hiding from the government.
He was a graduate of Christ College, Cambridge.
He was an opponent of King Charles I and a leading spokesman for Oliver Cromwell. In politics he advocated republicanism and a form of Libertarianism. Kings were not needed to make a nation, he argued, because it was the cirtue of the people that mattered:
- The happiness of a nation consists in true religion, piety, justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude and the contempt of avarice and ambition. They in whomsoever these virtues dwell eminently, need not kings to make them happy, but are the architects of their own happiness, and whether to themselves or others are not less kings.
Milton's Areopagitica (1644) strongly condemned the censorship of ideas and has become a canononical work regarding Freedom of Speech.
Further reading
- Bradford, Richard. The Complete Critical Guide to John Milton (2001) online edition
- online books and articles on Milton
Primary sources
- Areopagitica text and commentary from Dartmouth College
- Paradise Lost text and commentary from Dartmouth College
External links
- "An Interview with Leland Ryken about Milton’s Paradise Lost" The Gospel Center Dec. 9, 2008 Ryken is professor at Wheaton College, an Evangelical center
- "Milton" with Professor John Rogers complete Yale course on Milton; 24 lectures; full text and video online free