Bungacast /478/ Should You Listen to Satan? ft. Orlando Reade
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Apr 1, 2025 Orlando Reade, a Professor of English at Northeastern University London and author of 'What In Me Is Dark,' dives into the revolutionary themes of Milton's 'Paradise Lost.' He explores whether the poem speaks of darkness and its relevance today, especially regarding the age of Trump. The discussion also highlights how figures like Malcolm X interpreted Milton's insights on freedom and rebellion. Reade challenges listeners to consider the moral complexities of disobedience as embodied by Satan and Eve, linking epic poetry to modern political discourse.
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The Devilish Form of Revolutionaries
- Revolutionaries often appear as devils because they subvert norms.
- Their seeming immorality reflects transgression against the status quo.
Satan's Deceptive Appeal
- Milton's Satan initially seems appealing due to his revolutionary rhetoric.
- Close reading reveals his envy is baseless, clarifying his non-revolutionary nature.
The Right's Epic Masculinity
- Right-wing figures like Elon Musk use epic literature to promote ambitious projects and warlike rhetoric.
- The left needs to contest this monopoly on epic narratives.
