Paradise Lost V.2 by John Milton
Paradise Lost by John Milton is a monumental epic poem first published in 1667. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, the biblical account of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and explores profound themes such as free will, obedience, and the nature of good and evil. The poem is divided into twelve books and is written in blank verse, showcasing Milton’s masterful command of the English language and his deep theological insights.
The Story
The poem opens in medias res, with Satan and his fellow rebel angels cast out of Heaven after their failed rebellion against God. They find themselves in Hell, a place of torment and despair. Satan, undeterred by his fall, rallies his followers and declares that it is “better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.” He devises a plan to corrupt God’s newest creation, humankind, as a way of exacting revenge.
Satan journeys to Earth, sneaking into the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve live in a state of innocence and bliss. The poem vividly describes the beauty and harmony of Eden, as well as the pure love shared between Adam and Eve. However, this paradise is precarious, as they have been given one commandment by God: not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Satan, taking the form of a serpent, tempts Eve by appealing to her curiosity and desire for knowledge. He convinces her that eating the forbidden fruit will make her equal to the gods. Eve succumbs to the temptation and eats the fruit, and later persuades Adam to do the same. This act of disobedience leads to their fall from grace, bringing sin, death, and suffering into the world.
Themes and Characters
Milton’s portrayal of Satan is one of the most compelling aspects of Paradise Lost. Satan is depicted as a complex and charismatic figure, whose pride and ambition lead to his downfall. Despite his evil intentions, Satan possesses qualities that can elicit sympathy from the reader, such as his tragic sense of loss and his unyielding will. This portrayal has led to varied interpretations of Satan, with some readers viewing him as a tragic hero, while others see him as the embodiment of evil.
Adam and Eve, the first humans, are central to the poem’s exploration of free will and responsibility. Their choice to eat the forbidden fruit is portrayed as a conscious act of free will, demonstrating the human capacity for both great good and profound error. Milton delves deeply into the psychology of his characters, especially in the aftermath of the Fall, as Adam and Eve grapple with guilt, shame, and the loss of their innocence.
God is portrayed as omniscient and just, foreseeing the Fall but allowing it to happen to preserve the free will of his creations. The poem also introduces the character of the Son, who offers himself as a sacrifice to redeem humankind, foreshadowing the coming of Christ and the promise of salvation.
Conclusion
Paradise Lost is not only a retelling of the Fall of Man but also a meditation on the nature of sin, redemption, and the human condition. Milton’s epic explores the tension between divine predestination and free will, the consequences of disobedience, and the possibility of redemption. Despite the tragic events, the poem concludes with a message of hope, as Adam and Eve, though exiled from Eden, are comforted by the promise that their descendants will one day be redeemed.
Milton’s work remains one of the most influential poems in the English language, admired for its ambitious scope, rich language, and deep philosophical and theological insights. Paradise Lost continues to inspire readers and provoke thought about the complexities of human nature and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
