Introduction
Milton first published his seminal epic poem, Paradise Lost, in 1667.
A “Revised and Augmented” version, which is the one read more widely
today, was published in 1674. It consist of total 12 Books.
In it, Milton explains why he has chosen to compose his long poem in
English heroic verse without the use of rhyme, following the models of
Homer and Virgil.
Paradise Lost as an Epic:
An epic is a long narrative poem which has a lofty and sublime subject
presented in dignified style and ornamental language.
Milton’s 'Paradise Lost' is no doubt, a narrative poem of human
actions with a wider scope and large significance.
The fall of man is the theme of this epic. It means Milton not only
follows all the characteristic features of the epics of Homer and Virgil
but also modifies and ennobles his epic by giving it a Christian view.
The important feature of an epic is "The invocation to the Muse".
This invocation is made to inspire and bless the poet to complete his
task properly. Milton also uses this invocation and seeks aid of the
Heavenly Muse
In 'Paradise Lost,’ we come across human as well as superhuman
characters. Adam and Eve are human characters, whereas God,
Christ and Satan are the superhuman characters
Milton follows Aristotle’s views about sublime style and gives the air
of grandeur to his epic
Milton Uses “Blank Verses” in Paradise lost.
Main Characters:
Satan
Head of the rebellious angels who have just fallen from Heaven.
As the poem’s antagonist, Satan is the originator of sin—the first to
be ungrateful for God the Father’s blessings.
He embarks on a mission to Earth that eventually leads to the fall of
Adam and Eve, but also worsens his eternal punishment.
His character changes throughout the poem.
Satan often appears to speak rationally and persuasively, but later in
the poem we see the inconsistency and irrationality of his thoughts.
He can assume any form, adopting both glorious and humble shapes.
Adam
The first human, the father of our race, and, along with his wife Eve,
the caretaker of the Garden of Eden.
Adam is grateful and obedient to God, but falls from grace when Eve
convinces him to join her in the sin of eating from the Tree of
Knowledge.
Eve
The first woman and the mother of mankind.
Eve was made from a rib taken from Adam’s side. Because she was
made from Adam and for Adam, she is subservient to him.
She is also weaker than Adam, so Satan focuses his powers of
temptation on her.
He succeeds in getting her to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree
despite God’s command.
God The Son
Jesus Christ, the second part of the Trinity.
He delivers the fatal blow to Satan’s forces, sending them down into
Hell, before the creation of Earth.
When the fall of man is predicted, He offers himself as a sacrifice to
pay for the sins of mankind, so that God the Father can be both just
and merciful.
Devils, Inhabiting Hell
Beelzebub - Satan’s second-in-command.
Beelzebub discusses with Satan their options after being cast into
Hell, and at the debate suggests that they investigate the newly
created Earth.
He and Satan embody perverted reason, since they are both
eloquent and rational but use their talents for wholly corrupt ends.
Belial - One of the principal devils in Hell.
Belial argues against further war with Heaven, but he does so
because he is an embodiment of sloth and inactivity, not for any good
reason.
His eloquence and learning is great, and he is able to persuade
many of the devils with his faulty reasoning.
Mammon - A devil known in the Bible as the epitome of wealth.
Mammon always walks hunched over, as if he is searching the
ground for valuables.
In the debate among the devils, he argues against war, seeing no
profit to be gained from it. He believes Hell can be improved by
mining the gems and minerals they find there.
Moloch - A rash, irrational, and murderous devil.
Moloch argues in Pandemonium that the devils should engage in
another full war against God and his servant angels.
Sin - Satan’s daughter, who sprang full-formed from Satan’s head
when he was still in Heaven.
Sin has the shape of a woman above the waist, that of a serpent
below, and her middle is ringed about with Hell Hounds, who
periodically burrow into her womb and gnaw her entrails. She guards
the gates of Hell.
Death - Satan’s son by his daughter, Sin.
The relations between Death, Sin, and Satan mimic horribly those of
the Holy Trinity.
Angels, Inhabiting Heaven and Earth
Gabriel - One of the archangels of Heaven, who acts as a guard at
the Garden of Eden. Gabriel confronts Satan after his angels find
Satan whispering to Eve in the Garden.
Raphael - One of the archangels in Heaven, who acts as one of
God’s messengers. Raphael informs Adam of Satan’s plot to seduce
them into sin, and also narrates the story of the fallen angels, as well
as the fall of Satan.
Uriel - An angel who guards the planet earth. Uriel is the angel whom
Satan tricks when he is disguised as a cherub. Uriel, as a good angel
and guardian, tries to correct his error by making the other angels
aware of Satan’s presence.
Abdiel - An angel who at first considers joining Satan in rebellion but
argues against Satan and the rebel angels and returns to God. His
character demonstrates the power of repentance.
Michael - The chief of the archangels, Michael leads the angelic
forces against Satan and his followers in the battle in Heaven, before
the Son provides the decisive advantage. Michael also stands guard
at the Gate of Heaven, and narrates the future of the world to Adam
in Books XI and XII.
Themes:
The Importance of Obedience to God
The first words of Paradise Lost state that the poem’s main theme will
be “Man’s first Disobedience.” Milton narrates the story of Adam and
Eve’s disobedience, explains how and why it happens, and places the
story within the larger context of Satan’s rebellion
The Hierarchical Nature of the Universe
Paradise Lost is about hierarchy as much as it is about obedience. The
layout of the universe—with Heaven above, Hell below, and Earth in the
middle, presents the universe as a hierarchy based on proximity to God
and his grace. This spatial hierarchy leads to a social hierarchy of
angels, humans, animals, and devils. . To obey God is to respect this
hierarchy.
Light and Dark
Opposites abound in Paradise Lost, including Heaven and Hell, God and
Satan, and good and evil. Milton’s uses imagery of light and darkness to
express all of these opposites. Angels are physically described in terms
of light, whereas devils are generally described by their shadowy
darkness. Milton also uses light to symbolize God and God’s grace
Conversation and Contemplation
One common objection raised by readers of Paradise Lost is that the
poem contains relatively little action. Milton sought to divert the reader’s
attention from heroic battles and place it on the conversations and
contemplations of his characters.
Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors
used to represent abstract ideas or concepts
The Scales in the Sky
As Satan prepares to fight Gabriel when he is discovered in Paradise,
God causes the image of a pair of golden scales to appear in the sky.
On one side of the scales, he puts the consequences of Satan’s
running away,
and on the other he puts the consequences of Satan’s staying and
fighting with Gabriel.
The side that shows him staying and fighting flies up, signifying its
lightness and worthlessness.
These scales symbolize the fact that God and Satan are not truly on
opposite sides of a struggle—God is all-powerful, and Satan and
Gabriel both derive all of their power from Him.
