Nature of Good and Bad Evil

The theme of the nature of good and evil is a central concern of Paradise Lost. Milton explores this
theme through the characters of God, Satan, and humanity, and raises questions about the nature of
morality, free will, and the consequences of disobedience.

One of the key aspects of this theme is the idea that good and evil are not mutually exclusive, but rather
intertwined. This is evident in the character of Satan, who is described as a beautiful and charismatic
being, but also as a rebel against God's authority. For example, in lines 1-2, Milton describes Satan as a
being who "didst ascend / In the beginning, and didst lead the host / Of angels up to heaven's gate". This
description emphasizes Satan's beauty and power, but also his rebellious nature.

In contrast, God is depicted as a benevolent and just ruler, who creates humanity in his own image and
gives them the gift of free will. For example, in lines 26-27, Milton describes God as a being who "didst
create / The world and all that in it is". This description emphasizes God's power and creativity, but also
his benevolence and generosity.

However, the Fall of Man raises questions about the nature of good and evil, and whether humanity is
inherently good or evil. For example, in lines 28-30, Milton describes the Fall as a result of humanity's
"disobedience", which implies that humanity is responsible for its own downfall. However, in lines 31-
32, Milton also suggests that humanity was "favoured of heaven so highly" and that the Fall was a result
of Satan's temptation.

This ambiguity raises questions about the nature of morality and free will. Is humanity inherently good
or evil, or is it capable of choosing between good and evil? The poem suggests that the answer is
complex, and that humanity's nature is influenced by a combination of factors, including its own free
will, Satan's temptation, and God's guidance.

Overall, the theme of the nature of good and evil is a central concern of Paradise Lost. The poem raises
questions about the nature of morality, free will, and the consequences of disobedience, and suggests
that the answer is complex and multifaceted.

Freewill and Predestination

 The theme of free will and predestination is a complex and
multifaceted issue in Book 1 of Paradise Lost. Satan's
rebellion against God is presented as both a free will
choice and a destiny that was foreordained by God. On
one hand, Satan's rebellion appears to be a free will
choice, motivated by a desire for power and autonomy.
Satan and the fallen angels see themselves as self-
sufficient and autonomous, and they choose to rebel
against God's authority because they want to assert their
own power and independence. However, Satan's rebellion
is also presented as a destiny that was foreordained by
God. Satan feels trapped and helpless, and he sees no way
out of his situation except to continue to rebel against
God.

 The theme of free will and predestination is further

complicated by the fact that God is depicted as having
complete control over the universe and its inhabitants.
God has given humanity and the angels the gift of free will,
but He also emphasizes His own power and control over
the universe. This raises questions about the nature of free
will and whether it is truly possible for humans and angels
to make choices that are independent of God's will. The
poem suggests that both free will and predestination are
at work in the universe, and that the relationship between
them is complex and mysterious.
The character of Satan is a prime example of this complex
relationship between free will and predestination. Satan's fall is
depicted as a foreordained event, a direct result of God's power
and authority. However, Satan also appears to have made a
free will choice to rebel against God. This paradox raises
questions about the nature of Satan's rebellion and whether it
was truly a free will choice. Ultimately, the poem suggests that
Satan's rebellion was both a free will choice and a destiny that
was foreordained by God, highlighting the complex and
multifaceted nature of the theme of free will and
predestination.

Justice of God’ Actions

The theme of justice in God's actions is a central concern of
Paradise Lost. The poem presents God as a just and fair ruler,
who rewards obedience and punishes disobedience. God's
justice is based on the principle of reward and punishment,
where those who obey God's commands will be rewarded,
while those who disobey will be punished. For instance, in Book
3, God says that "The first sort by their own suggestion fell,
Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd By the other
first: Man therefore shall find grace, The other none: in Mercy
and Justice both, Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory
shine." This passage highlights God's justice as a fair and
balanced system, where mercy and wrath are both essential
components.

However, the poem also raises questions about the nature of

justice and whether God's actions are always just. The problem
of evil is a central concern of the poem, and Milton explores the
idea that God's justice may not always be apparent to humans.
For example, Satan's lament in Book 1, "Did I request thee,
Maker, from my clay To mould me Man, did I solicit thee From
darkness to promote me?" suggests that Satan feels that God's
justice is unfair, and that he has been treated unjustly. This
raises questions about the nature of justice and whether God's
actions are always just.

Despite these questions, the poem ultimately suggests that

God's justice is not just about punishment, but also about
mercy. God's justice is not a simplistic system of reward and
punishment, but a complex and multifaceted system that takes
into account the nuances of human nature. For instance, in
Book 3, God says that "In Mercy and Justice both, Through
Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory shine." This passage
highlights the importance of mercy in God's justice, and
suggests that God's actions are always just, even if they may
not always appear so to humans. Ultimately, the poem presents
a vision of God's justice as a fair, balanced, and merciful system
that is beyond human comprehension.
Disobedience and loss of
Innocence The theme of
disobedience and loss of innocence is a central concern of
Paradise Lost. The poem explores the idea that disobedience to
God's commands leads to a loss of innocence and a fall from
grace. The story of the Fall of Man is a pivotal event in the
poem, and it serves as a paradigm for this theme. According to
the poem, Adam and Eve were created by God and placed in
the Garden of Eden, where they were given the freedom to
choose between obedience and disobedience. However, they
were also given a clear command by God not to eat the fruit of
the Tree of Knowledge.

Despite this command, Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan

to eat the forbidden fruit, and they chose to disobey God's
command. This act of disobedience led to a loss of innocence
and a fall from grace, as they became aware of their own sin
and guilt. The consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience
were severe, and they served as a warning to the reader about
the dangers of disobeying God's commands. The loss of
innocence and the fall from grace led to a separation from God,
suffering, and death, as Adam and Eve became subject to the
consequences of sin.
The Tree of Knowledge serves as a symbol of the theme of
disobedience and loss of innocence. The tree represents the
forbidden knowledge that Adam and Eve gain when they eat its
fruit, and it serves as a reminder of the consequences of
disobeying God's commands. The tree also represents the idea
that knowledge and innocence are incompatible, and that the
pursuit of knowledge can lead to a loss of innocence. Through
the story of the Fall of Man, Milton explores the idea that
disobedience to God's commands leads to a loss of innocence
and a fall from grace, and he serves as a warning to the reader
about the dangers of disobeying God's commands.

Ultimately, the theme of disobedience and loss of innocence in

Paradise Lost serves as a reminder of the importance of
obedience to God's commands. The poem suggests that
disobedience to God's commands leads to a loss of innocence
and a fall from grace, and that the consequences of sin are
severe. However, the poem also offers a message of hope and
redemption, suggesting that it is possible to regain innocence
and reconciliation with God through repentance and faith.