What is even more amazing is that Milton wrote Paradise Lost while he was completely blind.
Milton began to lose his sight in his early 40s, and by the time he was 45, he was completely blind. This was a devastating blow to Milton, who had always been a voracious reader and writer. However, he refused to let his blindness stop him from pursuing his literary ambitions.
Milton dictated Paradise Lost to a series of amanuenses, or assistants who took down his words as he spoke them. He also used a technique called "pricking," in which he would make indentations in the paper with a stylus, and then his amanuenses would fill in the words.
The writing of Paradise Lost was a long and arduous process, taking Milton seven years to complete. However, the result was a work of staggering beauty and power. Paradise Lost tells the story of the Fall of Man, and it is a meditation on the nature of good and evil, free will and determinism, and the relationship between God and humanity.
Milton's blindness did not prevent him from creating a masterpiece. In fact, it may have even helped him to write Paradise Lost. The darkness of his blindness allowed him to enter into the world of the poem, and to see the events of the Fall with a new clarity.
Paradise Lost is a testament to Milton's genius, and to his determination to overcome adversity. It is a reminder that even in the face of darkness, there is always hope.
In addition to his blindness, Milton also faced other challenges while writing Paradise Lost. He was in poor health, and he suffered from gout and depression. He also lost his second wife and infant daughter during this period. However, he persevered, and Paradise Lost is a testament to his strength and resilience.
Milton's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows us that anything is possible if we set our minds to it. No matter what challenges we face, we should never give up on our dreams.
-Unlikely Buddha
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