Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, The

The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce is a prose work by John Milton published in 1643. It argues for a more liberal approach to divorce than was common in his era. Milton's personal experience of marital separation may have influenced his views, but his argument is primarily based on the concept of individual liberty and the importance of mutual compatibility and love in marriage. He contended that if a marriage lacked these elements, it had effectively already ended, and divorce should be permissible. Milton supported his arguments with scholarly citations and biblical interpretations. This work contrasts with the strictly hierarchical view of marriage presented in his later epic poem, Paradise Lost.12