Yes, this is an amazing piece of literature and a person can learn a great deal from it but I do not believe that a person should come away from this novel feeling ingnorance. Milton was a genius but I believe that this piece of work could do without his many references that only serve to show Milton's readers what a smart man he was. He comes off as an arrogent know-it-all. This work can carry its weight without the pretentious nature of Milton.
I'm rather amazed by many of the comments posted here because there is more to Milton<br>than meets the eye. Since there is no "Milton for Dummies," it would be important to read<br>more about the man's background and why he wrote this work. It is regarded as the last<br>English epic, and for good reason: he taught himself Greek, Latin, Italian, etc. - in short, some <br>10 languages - so that he could synthesize into one epic his view of man's/woman's place in creation.<br>Rather than being a straightforward religious tgract, "Paradise Lost" deals with the human's battle between<br>his reason (Adam) and his senses (Eve). There is a large allegory/metaphor at work in the poem<br>through which Milton is pointing to the power of the individual's use of both mind and soul to enact his<br>own redemption through the saving powers granted by a just and powerful God. Satan should be regarded as something<br>of the first lawyer in literature of any merit; as any good one, his client's guilt or innocence is not the issue; rather<br>his ability to use words to sway reason and the senses to his point of view. Remember that Satan enters the serpent through its<br>mouth and it is by beguiling the senses (Eve) that she in turn is able to seduce reason (Adam). Milton needs to be read closely and carefully<br>to appreciate the full ramifications of his poem. I have read and taught him for many years, and each time I finish, I am<br>amazed at the breath of my own ignorance about so much of our classical history, not to mention all the philosophical arguments<br>that have motivated religious, political, and social discourse for hundreds of years. We should approach Milton with a great deal of<br>respect and even more curiosisty as we attempt to understand where he wants to take us. His first and foremost concern is that<br>we learn to take responsibility for our own choices and decisions; a particular way to "salvation" - a loaded term for him - has been indicated, <br>but it is up to each of us to assume command of how we do it. And to understand why. That's why this poem is such an extraordinary feat of<br>skill, imagination, and intelligence. We need to read it and learn some things abaout our very human natures.
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