John Milton | English Poet | Biography and Important Points

We are going to discuss John Milton, one of the most important English poets and authors. While we will discuss all the major works of John Milton (including Paradise Lost and Samson Agonistes) in detail, let us begin with a quick go through his life. Having an idea of his biography will certainly help in understanding his literary work. John Milton was among such few poets and authors who created their best works during the latter half of their life, after the age of 50.
John Milton took birth on December 9, 1608, in London. His grandfather was a staunch Roman Catholic but his father decided to be a protestant and supported the Anglican Church. John Milton himself was attracted to the principles of Puritans. His grandfather expelled his father and disinherited him as his father sided with the Anglican Church and read the English Bible. His father shifted to London and established himself as a successful scrivener and moneylender. Milton began his schooling at St. Paul’s School, London. His father was very much interested in arts and hence, he arranged a private tutor to instruct and help John Milton along with his formal education. This tutor was Thomas Young, a Scottish Presbyterian who influenced John Donne with his ideas of religion and politics. John Donne remained in contact with Thomas Young through letters for a long period. At school, he befriended Charles Diodati who remained a long-time friend of Milton.
John Milton heard some of his sermons. John Donne’s influence on John Milton can be felt in his magnum opus Paradise Lost. Milton spent six years in Horton during which he hardly met anyone and spent most of his time studying Greek and Latin poets and authors. By the end of six years, he was familiar with all major works of Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and other major Greek and Latin writers.
During his tour to Italy, he managed to meet Galileo who was very old and blind at that time. Galileo was under house arrest when Milton met him. They discussed astronomy, science, and other varied subjects. Milton was just 30 years old at that time and he was too impressed by Galileo. Galileo was the only contemporary person of John Milton who got a mention in Paradise Lost.
After returning to London, he almost left poetry and decided to devote his energies to writing pamphlets supporting Oliver Cromwell’s commonwealth. So while cavalier poets were trying to popularize King Charles I, Puritan poets like John Milton decided to provide support to Roundheads headed by Oliver Cromwell. From 1640 to 1660, John Milton wrote many proses works almost all supporting the Puritan ideas and the government of Cromwell.
In 1642, John Milton got married to Mary Powell but their marriage proved to be a disaster as Powell left Milton just one month after their marriage. Mary Powell was just 17 years old then while Milton was 24 years old. Another reason for their separation was that Mary belonged to a family that supported Royalists while Milton was increasingly supporting the Roundheads. During his estrangement from his wife, Milton wrote four prose works on the subject of Divorce known as the Divorce Tracts of John Milton. They were titled The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (published in 1643), The Judgment of Martin Bucer Concerning Divorce (1644), Tetrachordon (1645), and Colasterion (1645).
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[@Vidyasagr_]

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[@sabahatzafar2382]

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[@achalgiri169]

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