Blake said that Milton’s writing was dull when he wrote about God and Jesus, but exciting when he wrote about Satan. Satan may have been in fetters at the end of the poem, but Milton was free when he wrote about Satan. Blake also claimed that all true poets are on the devil’s side, and that Milton was on the devil’s side, even though he was consciously on God’s side. You mentioned that Satan was in chains at the end of the poem, but that is not relevant to Blake’s argument.. According to Blake, Milton claimed that he was justifying God’s ways to man, but he was really glorifying the devil and rebellion against God. Satan’s defeat at the end of the poem is no evidence against Blake’s position. If you want to say that Blake was wrong, have at it, but I would argue that neither you, nor i, nor Blake really knew what was in the heart of John Milton. I enjoy Blake’s take on the poem but I’m not really convinced.
Blake said that Milton’s writing was dull when he wrote about God and Jesus, but exciting when he wrote about Satan. Satan may have been in fetters at the end of the poem, but Milton was free when he wrote about Satan. Blake also claimed that all true poets are on the devil’s side, and that Milton was on the devil’s side, even though he was consciously on God’s side. You mentioned that Satan was in chains at the end of the poem, but that is not relevant to Blake’s argument.. According to Blake, Milton claimed that he was justifying God’s ways to man, but he was really glorifying the devil and rebellion against God. Satan’s defeat at the end of the poem is no evidence against Blake’s position. If you want to say that Blake was wrong, have at it, but I would argue that neither you, nor i, nor Blake really knew what was in the heart of John Milton. I enjoy Blake’s take on the poem but I’m not really convinced.