Paradise Lost

by John Milton
Introduction

• Paradise Lost is an epic poem

in verse, written by the 17th-century
English poet John Milton. The first
version, divided in ten books with
over a thousand lines of verses, was
published in 1667. The second
edition, composed of twelve books,
was finally presented in 1674.
• It is Milton's major work, and it
helped rising his reputation as one
of the greatest English poets of his
time.
• The poem tells the story of the fall
of man: the temptation of Adam
and Eve by Satan and their expulsion
from the Eden.
The setting

• The book is based on Genesi’s

myths, consequently there isn’t a
specific time for the setting.

• The plot takes place in the two well-

knowed biblical otherworldly
realms, the Heaven, God’s reign and
the demon’s capital, called
Pandemonium, Satan’s kingdom.
The story of the deception of Adam
and Eve by Satan is related to the
divine Garden of Eden, situated in
Heaven.
Principal characters
• Satan can be seen as the hero, or protagonist, of the story, because he reaches his goal of corrupting Adam and Eve. This
goal, however, is evil. Satan is far from being the story’s object of admiration, as most heroes are. This character will make
an evolution during the plot.
• Adam is a strong and intelligent character anf he has a great relationship with God. In fact, before the fall, he embody the
perfect human. He has an enormous capacity for reason, and can understand the most sophisticated ideas instantly. His
biggest weackness is his unconditional love for Eve.
• Eve is created by God to be Adam’s mate. She’s better them Adam only in beauty. She’s vain and not very ambitious to
learn or make decision. Eve intelligence and purity are constantly tested.
• God, being omnipotent and omnipresent he knows everything before it happens. He has a beautiful relashionship with his
creatures and he always defend mankind’s freewill.
Short plot
• The story starts in hell, where Satan and his followers are recovering from defeat in a war they fight against God. They build their capital, called Pandemonium, where they hold
council to decide whether or not to return to battle. Instead they discuss to explore a new world prophecied to be created, where a safer course of revenge can be planned. Satan
decides to take the mission alone. He travels across chaos till he sees the new universe located near the heaven. God sees Satan flying towards this world and predicts the fall of
man. His Son, who sits at his right hand, offers to sacrifice himself for man's salvation. He flies to the sun, where he tricks an angel, Uriel, into showing him the way to man's
home.Satan gains entrance into the Garden of Eden, where he finds Adam and Eve. He hears them speak of God's commandment that they should not eat the forbidden fruit.
Uriel warns Gabriel and his angels, who are guarding the gate of Paradise, of Satan's presence. Satan is caught by them and banished from Eden. God sends Raphael to warn
Adam and Eve about Satan. Raphael recounts to them how jealousy against the Son of God led a once favored angel to wage war against God in heaven, and how the Son,
Messiah, cast him and his followers into hell. He relates how the world was created so mankind could one day replace the fallen angels in heaven.Satan returns to earth, and
enters a snake. Finding Eve alone he induces her to eat the fruit. Adam, forced to follows her fate, eats the fruit too. Their innocence is lost and they become aware of their
nakedness. In shame and despair, they become hostile to each other. Sin and Death, seeing Satan's success, build a passage to earth, their new home. Upon his return to hell,
instead of a celebration of victory, Satan and his trusted demons are turned into snakes as punishment of God. Adam reconciles with Eve. God sends Michael to expel the couple
from Paradise and to reveal to Adam future events resulting from his sinful action. Adam is disappointed by these visions, but revived by revelations of the future coming of the
born of mankind. In sadness, Adam and Eve are sent away from the Eden.
Themes and Analysis
• The obedience to God
• Satan’s evolution
• The ”fortunate” Fall
• Universe’s rules
My selection of best quotes

About repentance:
"How much more, if we pray him, will his ear Be open, and his heart to pity incline, And teach us further by what means to
shun Th’inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow, Which now the sky with various face begins."(X, 1060–1064)
-Adam and Eve
About mental strongness:
“The mind is ts own place, and in it self can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.” (I, 254-255)
-Satan
About disobedience:
"The law of God exact he shall fulfill Both by obedience and by love, though love Alone fulfil the law: thy punishment He shall
endure by coming in the flesh To a reproachful life and cursed death, Proclaiming life to all who shall believe In his
redemption, and that his obedience Imputed becomes theirs by faith, his merits To save them, not their own, though legal
works." (XII, 402–410)
-Archangel Michael