Tag Archives: John Milton

Think of Work Sweat as “Odorous Oil”

By Robin Bates | Published: September 4, 2022

Barrett Browning celebrates work in this sonnet, even as she alludes back to God’s curse on Adam in “Paradise Lost” and Genesis.

By Robin Bates | Published: August 23, 2022

Trump’s multiple excuses for the stolen government documents resembles Adam’s excuses in “Paradise Lost”–only Trump has Adam beat.

By Robin Bates | Published: August 4, 2022

After unexpectedly dreaming about a son who died 22 years ago, I thought of Milton’s poem about a similar dream, this one involving his wife.

By Robin Bates | Published: July 2, 2022

Christian nationalists, as Milton would note, worship power, not the god of love.

By Robin Bates | Published: June 12, 2022

Liz Cheney on the committee investigating January 6 and Donald Trump is like Milton’s Abdiel standing up to Satan.

By Robin Bates | Published: April 10, 2022

The “ressentiment” that drives Iago to destroy Othello is present in our own society and equally destructive.

By Robin Bates | Published: March 21, 2022

Milton’s Satan whispering into Eve’s ear as she sleeps is a lot like QAnon and Fox News whispering into the ears of gullible followers.

By Robin Bates | Published: March 6, 2022

Putin invading Ukraine is very much like Satan’s attack on Adam and Eve in Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”

By Robin Bates | Published: January 6, 2022

Milton’s Satan and Trump have a special reward for their followers: in exchange for having given of their principles, they receive sadistic thrills.