Abstract
Paradise Lost stands on the shoulders of all Milton's writings that came before it, and it cannot be fully understood by the reader without knowing the triumphs and tragedies that shaped the author. In fact, Paradise Lost is often misinterpreted by readers, not just because they are unfamiliar with Milton's life, but also because they fail to understand the complex political and religious theories that lie at the center of the poem's meaning. Modern readers, especially, will bring their own contemporary biases to the poem and fail to understand it in its seventeenth century context. A detailed study of common misconceptions on the arguments, characters, and language of Paradise Lost will demonstrate how, through careful rhetorical analysis of the text and a basic knowledge of political and religious climes, one can come to a fuller understanding of Milton's intentions.