During the period of the English Civil War and its aftermath, Milton gave up poetry to instead write essays defending the new government and attempting to forward his own radical ideas. The most famous of these is “Areopagitica,” a powerful argument for free speech. The essay begins by citing historical examples, claiming that noble and intellectually distinguished societies like ancient Greece and Rome have permitted free speech, while repressive, tyrannical, and corrupt governments, like those of Catholic countries, institute censorship laws.
He then argues that censorship laws are inherently ineffectual, because they cannot hope to prevent people from encountering evil ideas in other ways, and because virtue can't be instituted by force. Finally, he argues for the positive value of disagreement and pluralism, arguing that in this imperfect world, one must seek truth through arguments and hard work. Should censorship remain the law of the land, that search will always be impeded.
Milton’s other political essays make similarly radical arguments. In “Of the Tenure of Kings and Magistrates,” Milton argues that the people have a right to violently overthrow an unjust government. He states that power naturally belongs to everyone. The king only deserves to hold power as long as his doing so preserves justice.
In “Of True Religion,” Milton makes a more conventional argument. A strict Puritan, he urges no tolerance for Catholicism, arguing that the government should crack down on many aspects of Catholic religious practice. However, he also defends Protestant pluralism, saying that major differences in belief should be tolerated.
Finally, “The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce” was Milton’s most controversial work. It argued that divorce should be legal for those who have incompatible personalities, an extremely unpopular opinion at the time. The publication was repressed by the government, who believed that it was dangerous.
