Abstract:
This paper delves into how the divergent responses of America’s founding fathers to Milton’s “Paradise Lost” foreshadowed and influenced early America’s political landscape. Through in-depth textual analysis of letters and documents from the Enlightenment period, it explores Jefferson and Adams’ contrasting interpretations of Satan’s rebellion and its impact on their political ideologies. While Jefferson admired Satan’s defiance, Adams rejected it on moral grounds, leading to opposing views on governance and liberty. Their differing reactions also shaped their responses to contemporary events like the French Revolution, reflecting broader political and philosophical divides in early America. This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between literature, ideology, and political discourse in the formative years of the United States.
Main Author: Zhuangyan Shi
Co-authors: N/A
Research Paper Type: Historical Analysis Paper
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