critical debates

is eve to blame or not? is Milton misogynist or feminist?

shelley + blake - regard of satan

• reaction to enlightenment

• they are left wing republicans - don't like monarchies

• sympathy for milton

• can’t see why milton would write pl like this when they aligned politically

• like rebellious figure, against authority

• book 1+2 more dramatic presentation of satan - titanic strength

  • age of the byronic anti hero

• they find god dull

• milton cant describe god bc of puritanical beliefs but satan has physical presence

• cs lewis - opposing, christian voice

• shelley - atheist,

• blake - not orthodox christian, doesnt see devil as bad and god as good, theyre parts of a system

no pictures of milton in first editions of pl - worries about reception