This may be a little off-topic from what everyone else has taken away from the book, but I feel like that's just another reason to make my post about this. Throughout my own readings, I have had trouble making any substantial connection at all between the book and the politics of the time. I've had so much trouble seeing these politics that others see, that I would almost argue they're sparsely existent.
When you look at other examples of political allegory, especially ones of any historical significance, it's often quite obvious who the writer has meant to represent in their writing. Instead, I see many posts and hear many discussions where it's quite the opposite. There are more assumptions and guesses made about what represents what, than there are talks about why. Everyone seems to believe at face value that the book is purely political, while I do not truly believe anyone really understands exactly what political agenda the author pushed for.
To me, the book has only one underlying meaning, to throw shots at the governing church. Now, this certainly isn't to say Milton wrote against religion, he simply wrote against the church. The theme of the period was enlightenment, and to my understanding, Milton believed the church was halting enlightenment. Portions of the book speaking on God, even shown via a slide in class, are written in chains. How much more obvious could Milton have been in saying that the church was restraining people, or as Kant would say, causing tutelage.
Do you think the book has any deeper political agenda? If so, what?
P.S. - I commented on Stephen Davis and Rachael Gregson's posts
When you look at other examples of political allegory, especially ones of any historical significance, it's often quite obvious who the writer has meant to represent in their writing. Instead, I see many posts and hear many discussions where it's quite the opposite. There are more assumptions and guesses made about what represents what, than there are talks about why. Everyone seems to believe at face value that the book is purely political, while I do not truly believe anyone really understands exactly what political agenda the author pushed for.
To me, the book has only one underlying meaning, to throw shots at the governing church. Now, this certainly isn't to say Milton wrote against religion, he simply wrote against the church. The theme of the period was enlightenment, and to my understanding, Milton believed the church was halting enlightenment. Portions of the book speaking on God, even shown via a slide in class, are written in chains. How much more obvious could Milton have been in saying that the church was restraining people, or as Kant would say, causing tutelage.
Do you think the book has any deeper political agenda? If so, what?
P.S. - I commented on Stephen Davis and Rachael Gregson's posts
Comments
It's true that Milton was no fan of the church! He was very progressive in believing, that the people would be better off studying and learning more about the God they serve for themselves! It almost makes me wish Milton had written a devotional! Our 21 century idea of quiet time would have most likely been very appealing to Milton!