John Milton: Author of Paradise Lost

The first phase of John Milton's life centred around the years at Cambridge University where he was an immensely high achieving and hard working scholar nicknamed by those who knew him as 'the Lady of Christ's' (Christ's College, Cambridge). During this period he wrote three poems which were amongst the first to reveal his poetic talents. These included 'On the Morning of Christ's Nativity' (1629), 'L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso' (both 1631). Further poems written in this period include 'Camus' which was a masque written especially for performances at Ludlow Castle, Shropshire, in 1634 and also 'Lycidas', published in 1638.

Upon completing his time at Cambridge University, John Milton filled his time travelling and reading until the beginning of the second phase of his life which would begin in 1640.

The politics of the day were to divert Milton's energies to the great social issues confronting English society during the middle of the 17th Century. A steady stream of polemical prose pamphlets in the cause of puritanism, parliament and liberty were written including 'Eikonoklastes' (1649) and 'Areopagitica' (1644). The first was a defence of the regicides against the strong impact of Eikin Basilike. The second was his impressive argument in favour of freedom of the press which was written after parliament imposed numerous censorships.

John Milton was later to have an active role in government when he become Latin secretary to Oliver Cromwell's council in 1649. Latin was then the international language and he was responsible for all foreign correspondence due to his fluent knowledge of the ancient language.

During this period, a series of personal tragedies occurred in Milton's life. The first was his marriage to a woman half his age in 1642. Soon after she abandoned him and returned to her family which left him in emotional turmoil. In response to this unfortunate incident he published four controversial pamphlets advocating divorce. However, his wife was later to return to his side and they would go on to raise three children. She died ten years after their marriage in 1652.

Shortly after her death, Milton's eyesight had failed entirely and he was left blind. This physical tragedy led him to compose the stoical sonnet 'On His Blindness'. He refused to let this affect him and went on to marry for a second time in 1656. Unfortunately, this lasted just 2 years before she died and left him widowed for a second time.

In 1660, the third and final phase of John Milton's life began which coincided with the Restoration. Due to his prior political activities and literature, his life was now in jeopardy but he was later allowed to live his life peacefully and unmolested. It was during this period in his retirement years that he produced his greatest works.

His three daughters who by this time were adults, helped their father by reading to him and writing down that which he dictated to them. The year 1663 was a momentous year for Milton. He finished 'Paradise Lost' after three years of work and also married for the third and final time. During London's Great Plague in 1665, he and his family moved to Buckinghamshire where they settled in a small cottage in Chalfont St Giles.

The later years were not easy for John Milton, with continuous family friction and the ongoing difficulties associated with his blindness but nevertheless his work continued. 'Paradise regained' and 'Samson Agonistes' were both published together in 1671. Milton was to die three years later in 1674 impoverished and unrepentant for his political choices.

On His Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

by John Milton