Reviews with content warning for Rape - Paradise Lost

if i wasn’t a big bible fan, i know i wouldn’t have rated this epic so highly, but i rlly rlly love the bible so… kind of goes hand in hand. some parts of this text (like all books) dragged like CRAZY but i really liked the final books of the poem, john milton is a genius! i agree that it is like bible fan-fiction but it’s also not because it literally is just genesis.. like there are whole stanzas that are taken straight from the first book of the old testament LOL! john you think you’re so sneaky🤭super interesting how satan fell away for the last few books as the importance of the Messiah was stressed and how the ending was hopeful, i thought that was a rlly interesting touch - satan got rejected by his snake friends and had to continue his journey with his (insanely messed up) daughter and son/grandson. anyway satan was not the hero of the text, you guys just only read the first 4 books in school. I ACTUALLY ENJOYED THIS. EN101 FOREVER!!!!!!

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sperdut_a's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Paradise Lost isn't an easy read, but with a little preparation is doable. It's a masterpiece and it shows. The fact that we can still be inspired by this work of art after centuries says it all. If you're debating reading Paradise Lost, do IT. But, I suggest, it's best to read in a moment when you don't have much to do, when you can relax with your book and give it full attention. It's not a book for the train while commuting.

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nebubabe's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

really made me reflect on how much the abrahamic religions wrote the book on misogyny. in book x adam says, "O why did God,.... not fill the world at once With men as angels without feminine, Or find some other way to generate Mankind? this mischief had not then befall'n And more that shall befall, innumerable Disturbances on earth through female snares..." like dude, lying was just invented, she had no idea it was even a thing. hell, even the angels were deceived before god pointed it out! eve was set up i swear.

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seanml's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Obviously it’s helpful to keep in mind the contemporary values of society when reading any sort of literature. That said, DAMN did Milton give women a bunk deal. God creates Adam, gives him Paradise, gives him Eve (Who does NOT get all the physical and mental faculties that Adam enjoys), and then the almighty adds in a TREE with a big “do not touch sign.” What did He expect to happen??? First Lucifer, now Adam and Eve. God really needs to work on mending fractured relationships if He doesn’t want to just delete them from existence.

Otherwise, really great prose obviously. I can understand why some call this the best work of the English language. Milton knows how to write a sweet quote as well. 7.5/10.

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clitullus's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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hannahr's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced

2.0

Satan was cool, but that's it, everyone else was boring af

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