Paradise Lost

'Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven'

28 Oct, 20245 min read

Paradise Lost is an epic poem by the English poet John Milton. It was first published in 1667 that consisted of ten books. Later on in 1674 another edition with twelve books was published. It is one of the most important works of both Milton himself and the whole of English literature. This poem was especially important for Milton. Milton wanted to do something unique with his masterpiece so he decided to pen this book as an epic, a genre that was common way before his age. Milton believed that he was too late to write something great, therefore he came up with this solution of being first to write a Christian epic. Milton also believed that he was late because he 'wrote' this epic later in his life, in his 50's. One of the most interesting elements about this poem is the fact that the poem was not literally penned by Milton. While writing the epic, Milton started to gradually lose his eyesight. For this reason, he had to dictate the poem as it came to him and the people around him would write it down in his stead.

Paradise Lost is the retelling of the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. However, Milton begins his narration elsewhere, in Hell. At the Pandemonium, Satan and other fallen angels have gathered to discuss. After their battle in Heaven against God, they wish to take their revenge by corrupting humanity. So they are trying to come up with ways in which they can exact this act of vengeance. Although there are various opinions from various demons, in the end they decide to corrupt humanity. For this reason Satan leaves Hell and goes to the newly created world by God. Later, he will enter the Garden of Eden, disguised as a Cherubim, a lesser angel. On his journey, Satan tells his story to the reader in a soliloquy, a form of monologue. As he speaks to himself, he recounts the events that lead to his banishment and his former glory. However, in the end, he decides that it is better to 'reign in hell, than serve in heaven'. Now, since he is in the Garden of Eden, his plan's next step begins to corrupt humanity.

With the permission of God, Adam and Eve roam the garden freely as the only humans that God has created. However, there is one rule that they must not break. They are forbidden from eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But other than that they are free to do as they please. The Garden of Eden, believed to be located somewhere near Mespotamia is a true paradise. Here, no pain or evil exists. The weather is always moderate and temperate. The only season that exists here is an eternal spring. All of Adam's and Eve's needs are being met and they don't have to do anything. The Garden, by the will of God, provides everything that they need.

While they go on about their lives, Satan lies in waiting for the perfect moment. His opportunity comes when Adam and Eve are tending to the Garden's plants seperately from each other. By her creation, in the divine hierarchy, Eve is lesser than Adam and is expected to submit to his will. Eve is not portrayed as smart as Adam and their willpower is not the same. After all, she was created later specifically so that Adam had a companion. There are two version to her creation. In one of them, she is created at the same time as Adam. In the secon version, God creates Eve from Adam's rib, making her naturally inferior. Knowing this, Satan approaches Eve. He tells her that God doesn't want them to eat the apple since he wants them to remain subordinates to him as they are weaker than him. Eve, tempted by Satan's rhetoric, bites the forbidden apple. Upon learning this, Adam also eats the fruit as he is Eve's companion and doesn't want to leave her alone.

After eating the fruit, they start feeling emotions that weren't there before, such as guilt and shame. They have broken the one rule that they weren't supposed to and now they were waiting for their verdict. As punishment, God decrees that they will be kicked out of the Garden of Eden and face the harsh conditions of the world. They are now forced to survive, gather their own food, become ill, face hardships, and face immense pain in childbirth. Meanwhile, in the Pandemonium, Satan and other demons rejoice as they have succeeded in corrupting humanity and causing their fall. However, God also has a punishment for them. Due to their scheme, they are forced to spend the rest of eternity as serpents, the lowly life form that Satan disguised himself as.

Now, out of the Garden, Adam and Eve have lost their connection to God. They can no longer hear him or directly speak with him. The tangible aspect of God does not exist outside of the Garden. Instead, they communicate with him through the Archangel Michael. Throughout various parts in the book after their fall, Michael talks to Adam and Eve. In their first encounter however, Michael gives them a sort of history lesson, but not in a retrospective way. Michael shows Adam the future of humanity. Although their plead for redemption and forgiveness is not directly answered, it is revealed to them that their redemption will come later on, with the Son of God, Jesus Christ.