The History of Literature 729 Milton the Revolutionary (with Orlando Reade) | My Last Book with Jodi Picoult | More Exciting News
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Sep 1, 2025 Orlando Reade, Assistant Professor of English and author of *What in Me Is Dark*, discusses the revolutionary legacy of Milton's *Paradise Lost*. He illuminates how this epic poem has influenced notable figures like Malcolm X and Thomas Jefferson in their battles against tyranny. The conversation dives into the paradox of Milton's advocacy for freedom while confronting his personal contradictions. Additionally, author Jodi Picoult shares her thoughts on the last book she would choose to read, adding a personal touch to the literary discourse.
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Malcolm X's Prison Revelation
- Malcolm X read Paradise Lost in prison and linked Milton's depiction of Satan to contemporary rulers and colonizers.
- He concluded, provocatively, that the United States was governed by the devil, echoing Nation of Islam teachings.
Blake's Radical Reading Versus Malcolm X
- William Blake famously claimed Milton was "of the devil's party without knowing it," praising Satan's charisma.
- Reade contrasts Blake's contrarian reading with Malcolm X's more direct revolutionary interpretation.
Milton Wrote From Political Defeat
- John Milton wrote Paradise Lost after the failure of the English republican experiment and his work in the Cromwellian government.
- The poem carries political residues from those years without becoming a pamphlet.
