John Milton – A Gratitude of Rememberence.

“Milton's learned vocabulary and his distant perspectives, represent the authoritative unintelligibility of the parents' speech as heard by the child.”  ― John Broadbent, John Milton: Introductions

John Milton was that one poet in the history of English Literature who was one of the most celebrated writers who are still remembered for their imaginative artistic creations, he possessed such a strong personality that he cannot be taken to represent any one but himself. Milton was the greatest poet of the Puritan age, and he stands head and shoulders above all his contemporaries, though he completely identified himself with Puritanism.

John Milton was born in London on December 9, 1608, into a middle-class family. He was educated at St. Paul’s School, then at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he began to write poetry in Latin, Italian and English. After University, However, he abandoned his plans to join the priesthood and spent the next six years in his father’s country home in Buckingham shire following a rigorous course of independent study to prepare for a career as a poet. His extensive reading included both classical and modern works of religion, science, Philosophy, history, politics and literature. In addition, Milton was proficient in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and Italian along with knowledge of Old English and Dutch as well.

Samuel Johnson writes “ It appears in all his writings that had unusual concomitant of great abilities, a lofty and steady confidence in himself, perhaps not without some contempt of others; for scarcely any man ever wrote so much, and praised so few. Of his praise he was very frugal; as he set its value high, and considered his mention of a name as a security against the waste of time, and a certain preservative from oblivion.”

Though Milton praised Spenser, Shakespeare, and Ben Jonson as poets, he was different from them all. We do not find the exuberance of Spenser in his poetry. Unlike Shakespeare Milton is superbly egoistic. In his verse, which is harmonious and musical, we find no trace of the harshness of Ben Jonson. In all his poetry, Milton sings about himself and his own lofty soul. Being a deeply religious man and also endowed with artistic merit of a high degree, he combined in himself the spirits of the Renaissance and the Reformation. In fact no other English poet was so profoundly religious and so much an artist.

Milton’s early poetry is lyrical. The important poems of the early period are: The Hymn on the Nativity (1629), L’Allegro, II Penseroso(1632), Lycidas (1637), and Comus (1934). The Hymn, written whenMilton was only twenty-one, shows that his lyrical genius was already highly developed. The complementary poems, L’Allego and II Penseroso, are full of very pleasing descriptions of rural scenes and recreations in spring and autumn. L’Allegro represents the poet in a gay and merry mood and it paints an idealised picture of rustic life from dawn to dusk. II Penseroso is written in serious and meditative strain. In it the poet praises the passive joys of the contemplative life. The poet extols the pensive thoughts of a recluse who spends his days contemplating the calmer beauties of nature. In these two poems, the lyrical genius of Milton is at its best.

Lycidas is a pastoral elegy and it is the greatest of its type in English literature. It was written to mourn the death of Milton’s friend, Edward King, but it is also contains serious criticism of contemporary religion and politics.

Comus marks the development of the Milton’s mind from the merely pastoral and idyllic to the more serious and purposive tendency. The Puritanic element antagonistic to the prevailing looseness in religion and politics becomes more prominent. But in spite of its serious and didactic strain, it retains the lyrical tone which is so characteristic of Milton’s early poetry.

Besides these poems a few great sonnets such as When the Assault was intended to the City, also belong to Milton’s early period. Full of deeply-felt emotions, these sonnets are among the noblest in the English language, and they bridge the gulf between the lyrical tone of Milton’s early poetry, and the deeply moral and didactic tone of his later poetry.

When the Civil War broke out in 1642, Milton threw himself heart and soul into the struggle against King Charles I. He devoted the best years of his life, when his poetical powers were at their peak, to this national movement. But when he returned to poetry to accomplish the ideal he had in his mind, Milton found himself completely blind.  Moreover after the death of Cromwell and the coming of Charles II to the throne, Milton became friendless. His own wife and daughters turned against him. But undaunted by all these misfortunes, Milton girded up his loins and wrote his greatest poetical works—Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes.

“Me miserable! Which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat'ning to devour me, opens wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven.” 

                                                                                           ― John Milton, Paradise Lost

“The subject-matter of Paradise Lost consists of the casting out from Heaven of the fallen angels, their planning of revenge in Hell, Satan’s flight, Man’s temptation and fall from grace, and the promise of redemption. Against this vast background Milton projects his own philosophy of the purposes of human existence, and attempts “to justify the ways of God to men”,

 Says, Ruskin Bond; writing about Milton in Mussoorie. On account of the richness and profusion of its imagery, descriptions of strange lands and seas, and the use of strange geographical names, Paradise Lost is called the last great Elizabethan poem. But It’s perfectly organized in design, its firm outlines and Latinised diction make it essentially a product of the neo—classical or the Augustan period in English Literature. In Paradise Lost the most prominent is the figure of Satan who possesses the qualities of Milton himself, and who represents the indomitable heroism of the Puritans against Charles I. It is written in blank verse of the Elizabethan dramatist, but it is hardened and strengthened to suit the requirements of an epic poet.

Paradise Regained which deals with subject of Temptation in the Wilderness is written, unlike Paradise Lost, in the form of discussion and not action. Not very sublime as Paradise Lost, It has a quieter atmosphere, but it does not betray a decline in poetic power. The mood of the poet has become different. The central figure is Christ, having the Puritanic austere and stoic qualities rather than the tenderness which is generally associated with him. Paradise Regained, the sequel to his great epic Paradise Lost was the last published work of Milton. Due to his strong religious beliefs, Milton thought that this work surpassed Paradise Lost in both its art and its message, though most readers today would disagree.

There are no proper definitions to define Milton’s greatness as a poet. The reason why readers still love to read Milton’s work in an era completely different from that era of Puritanism where imagination had no wings, is because being a Puritan poet Milton took imagination to a new grade of excellence which was a tough task in those times. Milton kept on writing but he never knew that he was about to glorify a new history. His works are Milestones in the history of English Literature which acted as the foundation which today has led Literature to touch the skies and flourish throughout the world as Literature lovers are emerging like strong waves in the ocean. His readers surely know the depth of his writings and creativity which leaves a magical touch over them and the essence of his passion for English Literature is always felt just as Philip Pullman says:

“Blake said Milton was a true poet and of the Devil's party without knowing it. I am of the Devil's party and know it”.