The Alchemy of John Milton’s Paradise Lost: The Transformational Power of Storytelling

Abstract

John Milton’s Paradise Lost established his legacy as one of the greatest English poets, yet labeling him simply as a Protestant or Puritan limits the scope of his work. His writing embodies an activist mysticism that resists the restrictive doctrines of the Church of England and institutionalized religion more generally. Milton’s vision champions freedom of speech, education, and belief, rooted in what can be best described as alchemical thinking. He emphasizes our shared divine origin, stemming from a God who has already bestowed grace upon us—a loving parent who would even have forgiven Satan had he but asked.

This dissertation argues that a complete understanding of Milton demands a close reading of De Doctrina Christiana alongside Paradise Lost, focusing on his explicit monism and its links to ancient and contemporary alchemical thought. This framework situates Milton within his mythological and cultural context, revealing his reimagining of classical epics—from Homer, Virgil, and Ovid—to establish a profoundly new narrative world. As a perennialist, Milton does more than reference the Bible and classical texts; he constructs a radically inclusive space that calls readers into communal unity and self- discovery of the divine. Through an alchemical lens, Milton seeks his own chrysopoeia, inviting readers to join in this transformative creation, where we, too, are invited to undergo true transformation alongside him.