Life and Works of John Milton

John Milton
(born December 9, 1608, London, England—died November 8, 1674, London), English poet, pamphleteer,
and historian, considered the most significant English author after William Shakespeare.
Milton is best known for Paradise Lost, widely regarded as the greatest epic poem in English. Together
with Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, it confirms Milton’s reputation as one of the greatest English poets.
About Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem (12 books, totaling more than 10,500 lines) written in blank verse, telling the
biblical tale of the Fall of Mankind – the moment when Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden
fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, and God banished them from the Garden of Eden forever.
Summary
Each book of Paradise Lost is prefaced with an argument, or summary. These arguments were written by
Milton and added because early readers had requested some sort of guide to the poem. Several of the books also begin
with a prologue. The prologue to Book I state Milton’s purpose: to tell about the fall of man and justify God’s ways to
man.
The epic begins traditionally in medias res. Satan and the other rebellious angels awake to find themselves in
Hell on a lake of fire. Satan is lying beside Beelzebub. Satan raises himself from the lake and flies to the shore. He
calls for the other angels to do the same, and they assemble by the lake. Satan tells them that all is not lost and tries to
inspire his followers. Led by Mammon and Mulciber, the fallen angels build their capital and palace, Pandemonium.
The highest ranking of the angels then assembles for a council.
In the council, Satan asks what the demons think should be the next move against God. Moloch
argues for open warfare. Belial twists Moloch's arguments, proposing that nothing should be done. Mammon, the
materialistic angel, argues that they do the best with what they have. Finally, Beelzebub, Satan's second in command,
proposes that the angels try to get at God through his new creation, Man. Beelzebub's proposal, which is really Satan's
proposal, is adopted, and Satan volunteers to find the new world and new creatures. He leaves at once, flying to the
Gate of Hell. There, he meets his children, Sin and Death. Sin opens the gate for Satan who flies out into Chaos and
Night. Sin and Death follow him. Finally, in the distance Satan sees Earth.
God watches Satan approach Earth and predicts his success in corrupting Man. Man has free will.
But God omnisciently knows what will happen. God adds that Man can be saved through mercy and grace, but he
must also accept the just punishment of death, unless someone takes on death for Man. The Son offers to become a
man and suffer death in order to overcome it. The angels rejoice.
In the meantime, Satan, sitting on the edge of the Earth, cannot see the way to Man. Satan disguises
himself as a cherub and flies to the sun to talk with the archangel, Uriel. Uriel shows Satan the way to Man.
Looking at Earth, Satan is taken with its beauty but quickly overcomes his sympathy to concentrate
on what he must do. He sees Adam and Eve and is entranced with their beauty. As Satan listens to the pair, they talk
about God’s one commandment that they not eat from the Tree of Knowledge under penalty of death. Satan
immediately begins to formulate a plan.
Uriel, on the sun, becomes suspicious of the cherub whose face shows changing emotions and goes to warn
Gabriel. Gabriel says that he and his angels will capture any interlopers in the Garden, and late that night Ithuriel and
Zephron capture Satan whispering in Eve’s ear. The two angels bring Satan before Gabriel, who, with God’s help,
banishes the tempter from Earth.
When Eve awakes, she tells Adam of her troubling dream. Adam comforts her, reminding her that
they are safe if they obey God. God decides to send the angel Raphael to warn Adam and Eve to be wary of Satan.
Raphael goes to Earth where he eats with Adam and Eve. After the meal, Raphael tells Adam about the great rebellion
in Heaven.
 Raphael says that Lucifer (Satan) was jealous of the Son and through sophistic argument got his
followers, about one third of the angels, to follow him to the North. There, only one of Satan’s followers stood up
against him — Abdiel, who returned to God.
Satan attacks God and the Heavenly Host, whose power has been limited by God. Nonetheless, God’s forces
have little difficulty in defeating the rebels. Michael splits Satan in half, which is humiliating, but not deadly, because
Satan, as an angel, cannot die. After the first day of battle, the rebels construct a cannon and begin the second day’s
battle with some success. God’s forces begin to pull up mountains and hurl them at the rebels, burying them and their
cannons. God is amused at the presumption of the rebels but does not want the landscape destroyed. He sends the Son
forth by himself in a chariot. The rebels are quickly herded into Hell.
Next, Raphael responds to Adam’s questions about the creation of the world. The angel explains the
day-by-day creation of the world in six days. Then, in an effort to keep the angel engaged in conversation, Adam asks
about the motions of the heavenly bodies. Raphael explains that Adam should leave some questions to God’s wisdom.
Next, Adam describes his own creation, his introduction to Eden, and the creation of Eve. He describes how beautiful
Eve is to him and the bliss of wedded love. Raphael gives Adam a final warning about Satan as he leaves.
Having been gone from Eden for eight days, Satan returns, sneaking in through a fountain near the
Tree of Knowledge. He takes the form of a serpent to try to trick Man. When Adam and Eve awake, they argue over
whether they should work together or alone. Eve finally convinces Adam to let her work by herself. Satan, in serpent’s
form, approaches Eve and, using clever but fallacious arguments, convinces her to eat the fruit of the Tree of
Knowledge. After Eve eats, she reveals what she has done to Adam, who, unable to bear the thought of losing Eve,
eats also. Having eaten the fruit, the two are overcome with lust and run to the woods to make love. When they awake,
they are filled with shame and guilt. Each blames the other.
In Heaven, the angels are horrified that Man has fallen, but God assures them that He had foreknowledge of
all that would happen. He sends the Son to Earth to pronounce judgment on the humans and the serpent. The Son goes
to Earth and makes his judgments. He adds though, that through mercy, Adam and Eve and all humans may eventually
be able to overcome death. In an act of pity, the Son clothes the two humans.
Sin and Death meanwhile have sensed an opportunity on Earth. They construct a huge causeway
from Hell to Earth. On their way across, they meet Satan returning to Hell. They proceed to Earth while Satan enters
Hell in disguise. Satan appears on his throne and announces what he has done. Expecting to hear the applause of all
the fallen angels, he instead hears only hissing as he and all his followers are turned into snakes. When they eat the
fruit of the Tree of Knowledge which appears before them, it turns to bitter ashes.
On Earth, Sin and Death see infinite opportunities. God, looking down on the two, says eventually they will
be cast into Hell and sealed up. Adam and Eve lament, but Eve submissively asks Adam’s forgiveness. He relents, his
love overcoming his bitterness. She suggests suicide to avoid the terrible curse on the world, but Adam says they must
obey God.
God sends the angel, Michael, to take Adam and Eve out of Eden. Before doing so, Michael takes Adam to a
hill and gives the human a vision of biblical history, ending with the birth of Jesus who will be the savior of Man.
Adam rejoices. Adam and Eve together are led out of Eden. Behind them a flaming sword guards the entrance; ahead,
they face a new life in a new world.
Characters
God-The omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent creator of the universe. He is depicted as pure light by Milton and
rules from an unmovable throne at the highest point in Heaven. God is the epitome of reason and intellect, qualities
that often make him seem aloof and stern in the poem. His more merciful side is shown through his Son who is of
course one of the Trinitarian aspects of God though not the same as God. God creates Man (Adam) and gives him free
will, knowing that Man will fall. He also provides his Son, who becomes a man and suffers death, as the means to
salvation for Man so that ultimately goodness will completely defeat evil.
Son-In the doctrine of the Trinity, the Godhead is made up of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Milton seems to make God the Son not co-eternal with the Father, though the theology here is not absolutely clear.
The Son is presented to the angels well after the creation, and God's preferment of the Son causes Satan to rebel. The
Son creates the Earth (he is referred to as God while doing so). The Son offers himself as a sacrifice to Death as a way
to save Man after the Fall. The Son also defeats the rebellious angels and casts them into Hell. He shows the more
merciful aspect of God.
Satan-Before his rebellion, he was known as Lucifer and was second only to God. His envy of the Son creates Sin,
and in an incestuous relationship with his daughter, he produces the offspring, Death. His rebellion is easily crushed
by the Son, and he is cast into Hell. His goal is to corrupt God’s new creations, Man and Earth. He succeeds in
bringing about the fall of Adam and Eve but is punished for the act. He can shift his shape and tempts Eve in the form
of a serpent. He appears noble to Man but not in comparison to God.
Adam-The first human, created by God from the dust of Earth. He is part of God’s creation after the rebellious angels
have been defeated. At first Adam (and Eve) can talk with angels and seem destined to become like angels if they
follow God’s commands. Adam eats the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge because he cannot bear losing Eve. His
inordinate desire for Eve is his downfall. He and Eve feud after the fall but are reconciled. They eventually go forth
together to face the world and death.
Eve-Eve is the first woman, created by God from Adam’s rib as a companion for him. She is more physically
attractive than Adam, but not as strong physically or intellectually. She is seduced and tricked by Satan in the form of
the serpent and eats the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. She then tempts Adam whose love and desire for her is so
strong that he eats the fruit rather than risk separation from Eve. Ultimately, Eve brings about reconciliation with
Adam when she begs forgiveness from him. God promises that her seed will eventually bruise the head of the serpent,
symbolically referring to Jesus overcoming Death and Satan.
Death-Death is Satan’s son and grandson, the result of an incestuous union between Satan and his daughter, Sin.
Death has also had a relationship with Sin, producing the hellhounds that are at her side. Death is primarily an
allegorical character. He is a shadowy figure with a ravenous appetite. He and Sin build a great bridge from Hell to
Earth after Adam’s and Eve’s fall. God says that both Death and Sin will be sealed in Hell after Judgment Day.
Sin-The daughter of Satan who sprang from his head when he felt envy for the Son. She is beautiful to the waist but a
hideous serpent beneath, with hellhounds that surround her and go in and out of her womb. The hounds are a product
of her incestuous relationship with her son, Death, who was the product of a relationship with her father, Satan. In
much of Paradise Lost, Sin is an allegorical character. She opens the Gate of Hell for Satan to leave. She and Death
build a bridge to Earth and inhabit the world after Satan causes the Fall of Man. Eventually Sin and Death will be
sealed in Hell.
Beelzebub-The devil second in rank to Satan. In the Bible, the name Beelzebub seems most likely to have been
associated with the term “Lord of the Flies,” the demon who drove flies away from sacrifices. Numerous theories exist
but none are definitive or widely accepted. At best, the name Beelzebub exists in the Bible and is associated with
Satan and evil. Milton’s audience would have recognized Beelzebub as a demon, even if they probably knew little or
nothing of his origins. He acts as Satan’s mouthpiece in Book II.
Belial-In the Bible, Belial is a synonym for the devil or an adjective meaning wickedness or destruction. Milton
presents him as an individual demon representing impurity. He argues cunningly and effectively for taking no action
and is associated with “ignoble ease” (II, 227).
Mammon-In the Bible, Mammon is often presented as a king or demon who is the personification of wealth. In
Paradise Lost, he is called the “least erected” of the fallen angels because he always has his eyes downward looking
for gold or money. In the council, he proposes exploiting the wealth of Hell to create a comfortable existence rather
than warring against God.
Moloch-Moloch was an idolatrous deity worshipped by some Israelites. The chief feature of his cult seems to have
been child sacrifice. In Paradise Lost, he argues at the council for total war against God. He is neither subtle nor
effective in his speech.
Mulciber-Fallen angel who is the chief architect for Pandemonium. The character seems to be derived from
Hephaestus in Greek mythology. Loyal to God.
Michael-An archangel, one of the fiercest fighters in the battle between the rebellious angels and those loyal to God.
Michael’s name was a war cry of the good angels. In Paradise Lost, the fallen angels remember particularly the pain of
Michael’s sword. At the end of the epic, Michael reveals to Adam the biblical history of the world through the birth of
Jesus. Michael also leads Adam and Eve out of Eden.
Raphael-One of the archangels. According to tradition Raphael was the angel of Man and was supposed to deal with
Earth. Milton seems to follow that tradition since Raphael, often called the “affable archangel,” is sent to Earth to
warn Adam and to answer any questions Adam has. Many scholars fault Raphael’s advice and find him complicit in
the Fall of Man. The conversation between Raphael and Adam takes place in Books V — VIII.
Gabriel-In the Bible, the archangel Gabriel is the angel of mercy in contrast to Michael, the angel of justice. In the
New Testament, Gabriel announces the coming of Jesus to Mary. In Paradise Lost, he is the angel who guards the gate
of Eden. He captures Satan on his first attempt at corrupting Adam and Eve and sends him away.
Abdiel-Angel in Satan’s host who opposes Satan’s plan to rebel and returns to God. In the battle with the rebellious
angels, Abdiel confronts Satan and pushes him backwards.
Ithuriel-One of the angels who assist Gabriel in guarding Eden. Ithuriel and Zephron capture Satan whispering in
Eve’s ear.
Urania-The name of Milton’s muse. Classically, Urania is the Muse of Astronomy. Milton transforms her into
Christian inspiration or the Holy Spirit.
Uriel-One of the seven archangels. He is tricked by Satan disguised as a cherub. He realizes his mistake later and
warns Gabriel that an interloper has entered the Garden of Eden.
Uriel-One of the seven archangels. He is tricked by Satan disguised as a cherub. He realizes his mistake later and
warns Gabriel that an interloper has entered the Garden of Eden.
Major Themes
Hierarchy and Order-In portraying the “Fall of Man” and the war in Heaven, Milton spends much of Paradise
Lost describing the universal hierarchy and order that these events upset. In his 17th century view of the cosmos,
Heaven exists above, Earth below, and Hell and Chaos below that. Within this geographically ordered cosmos, the
most important hierarchy of Heaven is that of God as supreme monarch, the creator and ruler of the universe, and his
“only begotten” Son as equal in rank, a separate person but of the same essence as God. Below these are the
Archangels and Angels, arranged in different categories depending on their proximity to God’s light – these include
Thrones, Powers, Dominions, and Cherubim, among others. When God creates Earth, he sets Adam and Eve in rank
above the animals, and he sets Adam above Eve in terms of authority and wisdom. The devils of Hell are the lowest
ranked of all, as they have been totally cast away from God.
Disobedience and Revolt-Paradise Lost is about the fall of humanity and the rebellion of Satan and his angels, so the
plot and conflict almost entirely come from acts of revolt against the hierarchy of God’s universe. The “Fall” comes
when Satan grows jealous of God honoring the Son so highly. Satan then convinces a third of Heaven’s angels to rebel
with him, claiming that they should be honored as gods and not have to worship God and his Son. This leads to a civil
war in Heaven, with the rebels eventually being defeated and cast into Hell. In his bitterness Satan plots to corrupt
humanity, who are then innocent, and in this second rebellion he uses fraud and disobedience instead of open revolt.
The central conflict and subject of the poem then becomes Adam and Eve disobeying God by eating the fruit of the
Tree of Knowledge, which God had forbidden. This single act of disobedience leads to the “Fall of Man,” and the
Christian explanation for all the suffering and evil in the world.
Sin and Innocence-Paradise Lost is basically a dramatization of the “original sin,” the explanation of how evil
entered a world that began as God’s perfect creation. For a Christian like Milton, sin is everything that breaks God’s
laws, including acts that do harm to other humans and acts that upset the hierarchy of the universe. God’s Heaven of
good Angels and the original Paradise are both innocent places, free from any sin and unhappiness, and Milton tries to
describe this pure innocence (though he is using “fallen language”) in terms of natural joy, worship of God, and even a
kind of blissful ignorance – as Adam doesn’t know what death is except that it is bad, and Raphael warns Adam about
wondering too much about the cosmos. The original sin of Adam and Eve is then the ultimate fall from innocence, as
their act introduces sin into the world, along with a host of other evils like some animals becoming carnivores. The
forbidden Tree gives Adam and Eve knowledge, but along with knowledge of evil it also brings evil itself, and the
single disobedient act spirals quickly into lust, anger, and pride. At the end of the poem Michael shows Adam visions
of the future, in which there seems no innocence left at all, as brothers murder brothers, disease and suffering rule, and
people worship false gods. The only hope for the future is the coming of God’s Son (Jesus), who will eventually break
the power of evil and save those who accept him. God cannot restore the ignorant, pre-Fall innocence of Eden after sin
has entered the world, but he can draw goodness out of the knowledge and experience of sin, which creates the hope
and optimism at the poem’s end.
Free Will and Predestination-In Paradise Lost Milton argues that though God foresaw the Fall of Man, he still
didn’t influence Adam and Eve’s free will. Milton’s God exists outside of time and so sees all times at once, and thus
can see the future without actively affecting it. God specifically says that he gives his creatures the option to serve or
disobey, as he wants obedience that is freely given, not forced. Some critics have claimed that the God of the poem
undercuts his own arguments, however. Milton did not believe in the Calvinistic idea of “predestination” (that God
has already decided who is going to Hell and who to Heaven), but he often comes close to describing a Calvinistic
God. God purposefully lets Satan escape Hell and sneak past Uriel into Eden, and basically orchestrates the whole
situation so that humanity can be easily ruined by a single disobedient act. In describing the Fall before it happens,
God already predicts how he will remedy it and give greater glory to himself by sending his Son to die and restore the
order of Heaven.
Love and Marriage-Love is one of the Christian God’s most important attributes, and Heavenly love also takes
center stage early in the poem as the angels ceaselessly worship God and commune with each other in joy, and
the Son offers himself as a sacrifice for humankind out of love for them. Then when Adam and Eve are created, the
poem partly shifts its focus to mortal love and the idea of marriage.
Milton was seen as radical and lewd for suggesting that Adam and Eve had sex before the Fall and still remained
sinless, but Milton creates a picture of marital love that is innocent and pure and still involves sexuality, mostly as a
form of obedience to God’s command to “be fruitful.” Milton also emphasizes the hierarchy in marriage, which relates
to the general ideas about women at the time. Adam is created to be superior to Eve, communing with God directly,
while she communes with God through him, and while Eve is more beautiful, Adam is wiser and stronger. Along with
this marital hierarchy, there is also a proper order for love itself. Love of God should come before romantic love (or
self-love, in Satan’s case), so when Adam chooses to disobey God’s commandment for the sake of Eve’s love, this is
as much his “original sin” as the actual eating of the forbidden fruit. Though this romantic love leads to the Fall, it is
also a great comfort to the couple (along with the ever-present love of God) as they are expelled from Paradise. Adam
and Eve can still take some joy in each other, and look forward to the day when God will prove his divine love
through his Son’s incarnation.
Symbols
Forbidden Fruit-One of the most famous symbols in history, the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge is the only fruit
that God forbids Adam and Eve to eat of all the trees in Eden. The fruit is delicious-looking and aromatic, but Adam
and Eve have no trouble resisting it until Satan tricks Eve into eating the fruit, as she hopes to gain knowledge and
value. In itself the fruit gives knowledge of good and evil, which Adam and Eve lack in their innocent ignorance, but
the importance of the fruit is that they eat it despite God’s commandment. The Forbidden Fruit gives is not inherently
sinful, but disobeying God by eating of the Tree is sinful. The fruit that Eve and Adam eat then becomes the ultimate
symbol – a single small thing that represents the cause of all the evil and suffering in the world.
The Scales in the Sky-When Satan is discovered in Paradise and confronted by Gabriel, God causes a pair of golden
scales to appear in the sky, the scales on which God weighs the outcomes of every event. On one side of the scales is
Satan running away, and on the other side is the result of him staying and fighting. This second side flies up, showing
its emptiness and worthlessness. Satan accepts the inevitable truth of this outcome and chooses to run away. The
scales represent God’s supreme power over both his Angels and the rebellious devils, as he exists outside of time and
knows all possible futures. Satan had once thought himself as powerful as God, but after his defeat he realizes there is
no way to overthrow the omnipotent God. Satan is then forced to resort to fraud and trickery instead of open revolt,
and even then he only acts as God allows him to – he accepts the power of God’s “scales,” and merely tries to cause as
much pain as he can with his allotted power.
Heaven and Hell-Story of the book revolves around heaven and hell. Adam is in heaven but Stan is in hell at the start
of the poem. John Milton makes allusions from the Bible and also from ancient Greek literature. In the Bible, heaven
is a place where a human would remain forever after his death in case he is a believer. If a person does not do good
deeds or is a disbeliever, he would be thrown in hell where he would remain forever in the afterlife. 
In Paradise Lost, Hell and Heaven are symbols of evil and good; wickedness and innocence; stubbornness and
repentance; punishment and reward. It is also a matter of fact that both Adam and Satan want to regain their position
in heaven. If any one of them regains his position in heaven, he wins. The story is all about getting the lost position
back.
Darkness in Hell-In the start of the poem, Satan is the one who is introduced to the readers first. He is in hell where
there is darkness everywhere. Nothing was visible but darkness, says Milton. Darkness is a symbol that John Milton
uses in his poem to show dark life of Satan. He would remain in darkness forever. No matter how much he tries he
would never come out of that darkness. He sees a slight light in the darkness yet it is his wish that would never come
true, hence, darkness in the hell and a little light of flames are symbols that John Milton uses in Paradise Lost
accordingly. 
Literary Devices
Figurative Language-Figurative language is a literary device that involves using language in a way that deviates
from the literal meaning of words in order to create a more imaginative and expressive effect. Milton makes extensive
use of figurative language in Paradise Lost, particularly in the form of similes and metaphors.
Metaphors are another form of figurative language that Milton uses frequently in Paradise Lost. For instance,
in Book IV, Adam describes his relationship with Eve as a “bond of union” (line 1061). This metaphor not only
conveys the close relationship between Adam and Eve, but also suggests that they are united and inseparable.
Imagery- Imagery is a literary device that involves the use of descriptive language to create vivid and sensory mental
images. Milton uses imagery extensively in Paradise Lost, often to convey the grandeur and majesty of the
supernatural world.
One example of imagery in Paradise Lost is the description of Heaven in Book III. Milton describes Heaven
as a place of “eternal brightness” (line 578) where “light and life” (line 579) are in abundance. The use of these vivid
and sensory words helps to create a vivid and captivating mental image of Heaven as a place of beauty and joy.
Symbolism- Symbolism is a literary device that involves the use of symbols to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In
Paradise Lost, Milton uses a number of symbols to convey deeper meanings and themes. One example of a symbol in
Paradise Lost is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This tree symbolizes the temptation of Adam and Eve to defy
the will of God and seek knowledge on their own. The fruit of the tree represents the forbidden knowledge that
ultimately leads to their downfall. Another symbol in Paradise Lost is the flaming sword that guards the entrance to
the Garden of Eden. This sword symbolizes the consequences of disobedience and the power of God to protect and
defend His creation.
Personification-Personification is a literary device that involves attributing human qualities or characteristics to
inanimate objects or abstract concepts. Milton uses personification in Paradise Lost to give life and personality to non-
human entities. One example of personification in Paradise Lost is the description of Sin as a “monstrous child” (Book
II, line 735). This personification not only conveys the grotesque and unnatural nature of Sin, but also suggests that
she is a being with agency and will.
Metonymy-Metonymy is a literary device that involves using a word or phrase to refer to something else that is
closely related to it. Milton uses metonymy in Paradise Lost to create a sense of association and connection between
different ideas or concepts.
One example of metonymy in Paradise Lost is the use of the phrase “the sword” to refer to the flaming sword
that guards the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Book IX, line 887). The use of “the sword” instead of “the flaming
sword” creates a sense of familiarity and association between the two objects.
Hyperbole-Hyperbole is a literary device that involves using exaggeration or overstatement to create emphasis or
emphasis. Milton uses hyperbole in Paradise Lost to create a sense of grandeur and drama. One example of hyperbole
in Paradise Lost is the description of the battle between the angels in Heaven as a “war of loud uproar” (Book VI, line
779). The use of the word “loud” and the phrase “uproar” creates a sense of intense and chaotic conflict, suggesting
that the battle was truly epic in scale.
Onomatopoeia-Onomatopoeia is a literary device that involves using words that imitate or suggest the sounds
associated with the things or actions they describe. Milton uses onomatopoeia in Paradise Lost to create a sense of
realism and sensory immersion. One example of onomatopoeia in Paradise Lost is the use of the word “hissing” to
describe the sound of Satan’s wings as he flies through the air (Book I, line 634). The use of the word “hissing” not
only conveys the sound of Satan’s wings, but also suggests their serpentine and sinister nature.
Conclusion
In Paradise Lost John Milton retells the Christian creation story of Adam and Eve. It is considered to be the
story of “man’s first disobedience.” However, what is most important to consider is what that disobedience causes.
Milton writes that without Adam and Eve’s classic example of disobedience, God would never have been able
to show his grace and love, creating a better outcome than if they hadn’t disobeyed him. We have this opportunity
every day. As humans we are flawed, but this doesn’t mean we have to accept the flaws of our world, or even our
broken political system. This means that we are given the opportunity to turn the negative into positive.
We can even see traits of humanity within Satan’s character. He went off on his own and created his own
army, only to have nostalgic feelings for Heaven, asking himself why he couldn’t just be content in the presence of
God.
In our world we have both good and evil. It is unavoidable, and as long as one exists, so will the other. We
live in a world of contraries and we see that play out every day in politics. Peace vs. war. Love vs. hate. We must ask
ourselves which side we want to fall on, then we must act.
What Paradise Lost teaches us is that it is a beautiful thing to be human and know both good and evil. As
much pain as evil brings about, it also gives meaning to good. The difference between the two help us understand
what we should seek, and what we must certainly should avoid.
Paradise Regained
Written in four books, John Milton’s Paradise Regained (1671) tells the story of Christ’s temptation by Satan and
ultimate victory, using as a historical basis the version of the tale found in the Gospel of Luke. Milton preferred
Luke’s version to that found in Matthew for the order of the three temptations, placing the temptation of the tower last
and allowing for a dramatic conclusion. In the first book Satan asks Christ to transform a stone into bread after fasting
for 40 days, and in the second Satan extends the invitation to Christ to receive “all the kingdoms of the world” as a
gift. Milton intended the climax and the denouement, when the two characters of Christ and Satan realize the truth
about one another, to conform to the recognition by hero and adversary that Aristotle considered essential to well-
written tragedy.
Summary
Paradise Regained is poet John Milton’s sequel to his great epic poem Paradise Lost (1667, 1674), in which
he began his history of sin and redemption by telling the story of the fallen angel Lucifer (Satan) and the loss of
innocence through Adam and Eve’s original sin and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Whereas Paradise
Lost consisted of ten books (twelve in its 1674 revised version) of blank verse, Paradise Regained consists of only
four. In the poem’s induction, Milton announces that he will complete the history of sin and redemption begun
with Paradise Lost. Thus, Paradise Regained retells Luke’s account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert by Satan.
Milton begins his story with Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. At this event, a voice from Heaven announces
that Jesus is the Son of God, a term whose meaning is crucial to the story as Jesus grows in knowledge of himself and
his role as the Messiah. Jesus, returning to his mother Mary’s house, hears from Mary the story of his miraculous
birth, announced by the angel Gabriel. Jesus then wanders in the desert for forty days and nights as he ponders how to
begin his mission.
Meanwhile, Satan has observed Christ’s baptism and heard the announcement that Jesus is the Son of God,
though he is unsure of what the term “Son of God” means. Calling a council of devils, Satan resolves to corrupt Jesus
as he did Adam. God the Father views all these characters from Heaven and tells the angel Gabriel that Jesus’ time in
the desert will be his trial period, which he will pass just as Job did. In the wilderness, Satan, disguised as an old man,
confronts Jesus. Posing as Jesus’ friend and adviser, Satan tempts Jesus (who now feels the pangs of hunger after his
forty days in the wilderness) by telling him to turn the stones into food. Jesus, however, sees through Satan’s disguise
and says that man lives by God’s Word, not by bread. During Jesus’ absence, Andrew and Simon, Jesus’ followers,
search for him and meditate on his significance, while Mary keeps her faith in God’s promise.
Satan calls another devils’ council to debate how to destroy Jesus. The fallen angel Belial advocates tempting
Jesus with women, but Satan disdainfully cites the examples of great men who resisted lust. After his council, Satan
returns to Jesus and spreads before him a proper offering to the Son of God, a banquet in the wilderness—all the
world’s fine foods with beautiful women for attendants. Jesus sees through Satan, realizing that the real temptation
here is to take food as a gift from Satan; he rejects Satan’s offer, saying that he could command a greater feast if he
wanted. Next, Satan offers Jesus wealth, without which (Satan indicates) the Son of God can never rule a great
kingdom. Jesus counters that true heroism, like that of Socrates and Job, lies in self-control, not in controlling others.
Next Satan takes Jesus to a mountaintop to view the world’s empires. Satan reminds the Savior that he is the
heir to King David’s throne and offers to help him regain that throne. First Satan shows Jesus the Parthian Empire,
Rome’s great eastern rival, brave and warlike. Satan promises to deliver Parthia to Jesus, but Jesus rejects warfare.
Then Satan shows Jesus the city of Rome, with its glories and its corruption, implying that Jesus, as David’s heir, can
overthrow the degenerate Tiberius, who has already abandoned Rome for the island of Capri, and free both the
Romans and the Jews from Tiberius’s oppression. Jesus rejects Satan’s arguments: Parthian valor and Roman glory
are based on killing and slavery. The Messiah seeks instead the glory that comes from living a life of virtue. He also
unsettles Satan by reminding him that the oppression of Rome’s or Parthia’s subjects was, after all, Satan’s
handiwork.
Satan, realizing Jesus’ disdain for political power, directs his attention to Athens and the prospect of
intellectual glory, as represented by Greek poetry, philosophy, law, and oratory. Once again Jesus remains firm, seeing
no value in learning and eloquence purchased at the cost of faith. Showing an awareness of classical culture that Satan
had not expected, the Savior distinguishes between the cleverness of the Greeks and true wisdom, which combines
knowledge with judgment and moral commitment. Whatever is good in Greek learning, Jesus asserts, is already found
in the scriptures; moreover, the Greeks are intellectually limited because, as pagans, they do not know the one true
God.
A desperate Satan, still believing that the title “Son of God” has no special meaning, makes his final
temptation. After trying unsuccessfully to weaken Jesus with a night of storms and nightmares, Satan flies Jesus to the
pinnacle of the temple at Jerusalem and dares him to stand or fall, saying that angels will lift him up. Jesus replies,
“Tempt not the Lord thy God.” With this, Jesus reveals his true nature as the Son of God. Satan falls into defeat.
Angels then fly Jesus to a valley, where they put forth a feast for him. In a conclusion capturing both Jesus’ humility
and his grandeur, the angels sing hymns of praise to Jesus, after which he quietly returns to his mother’s house.
Satan, realizing Jesus’ disdain for political power, directs his attention to Athens and the prospect of
intellectual glory, as represented by Greek poetry, philosophy, law, and oratory. Once again Jesus remains firm, seeing
no value in learning and eloquence purchased at the cost of faith. Showing an awareness of classical culture that Satan
had not expected, the Savior distinguishes between the cleverness of the Greeks and true wisdom, which combines
knowledge with judgment and moral commitment. Whatever is good in Greek learning, Jesus asserts, is already found
in the scriptures; moreover, the Greeks are intellectually limited because, as pagans, they do not know the one true
God.
Characters
Jesus of Nazareth-Jesus of Nazareth, the tempted, an embodiment of the poet’s religious philosophy and ideals. He is
reasonable, intelligent, and holy. Pronounced the beloved Son of God at his baptism, he enters the desert to meditate
on the course he should choose to fulfill his destiny as the Saviour of humankind. His self-communion and his
troubled dreams show His humanity and prevent His becoming a mere theological abstraction. Superior to both
physical and spiritual temptations, He overcomes Satan and redeems humankind from its fallen state caused when
Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation.
Satan-Satan, the tempter, the great Dictator of Hell. Debased from the splendid, though tarnished, rebel of Paradise
Lost (1667), he is a sly, lying trickster. His choice of temptations for Jesus shows shrewdness, but shorn of
understanding of God, he lacks wisdom. Frustrated by the fortitude and virtue of Jesus, he lapses into snarling and
futile rage. His violence recoils on himself, and astonished, he falls a second time, completely conquered.
John the Baptist-John the Baptist, the trumpet-voiced “great Proclaimer.” Satan learns at the baptism of Jesus by
John that he now has a terrible adversary among men.
Belial-Belial, the self-indulgent fallen angel. Lustful himself, he thinks lust the perfect temptation; therefore, he
advises Satan to use women in his temptation of Jesus. His suggestion is scornfully overruled by Satan.
Mary the mother of Jesus-Mary the Mother of Jesus, who is pure-hearted and calm but nevertheless troubled over
the long absence of her Son.
God the Father-God the Father, the omniscient and all-wise being who foretells to Gabriel the temptations and their
outcome.
Gabriel-Gabriel, the angel of the Annunciation. He is chosen to hear God’s prophetic plan.
Major Themes
REDEMPTION-Arguably, the most important theme of Paradise Regained is the one contained in Milton’s title.
Jesus has been sent by God to reverse the sinful course of human history: in particular, the young Messiah is seen as a
man who, through his superior virtues, will provide a corrective for the Original Sin perpetrated by Adam and Eve.
Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Jesus’s work of salvation—his task of regaining paradise for humankind—
will meet a variety of obstacles. The fallacies of pagan religion and philosophy, the rise of vicious empires such as
Rome, and the heretical lapses of the Israelites themselves are all human sins that must be acknowledged and
countered in Jesus’s work of redemption.
Christian heroism-This is defined as enduring faith in God, belief in prayer, and a spiritual strength to persevere
through obstacles. The character of Jesus Christ is the epitome of Christian heroism. 
Reversal, Negation, and Undoing of Fate-The title of the work itself modifies that of its prequel, Paradise Lost, by
introducing a negation. Within the text, Milton often juxtaposes antonymic words in his syntax that repeatedly cancel
each other out, suggesting that the work itself serves to restore humanity's spiritual ambition or hope that was
originally "lost."
Hunger- Milton repeats references to both bodily and spiritual hunger by tracking Jesus's meanderings through the
desert for forty days and nights as he looked for bodily sustenance and religious restoration. Satan focuses on hunger
in the literal sense by constantly trying to entice the fallible human version of Christ with food. Ultimately, Jesus
refuses Satan's temptations and is able to end his own spiritual hunger.
Symbols
HEAVEN AND EARTH-The action of Paradise Regained occurs in two different regions of the cosmos: the airy
domain of God, Gabriel, and Satan, and the earthly domain of Jesus, Mary, and Jesus’s first disciples. Distinct though
these regions are, there is meaningful interaction between the inhabitants of Heaven and those of Earth. The plan that
God formulates, for instance, is meant to change the course of earthly history, while Satan—though technically an
inhabitant of a “mid air” region with “thick clouds” (I.39-41)—values earthly displays of military might. Yet the
intersection of Heaven and Earth is most memorably manifested in the figure of Jesus. Both fully the Son of God and
fully human, he is attended by angels and makes heavenly pronouncements, and yet reenters earthly settings at the end
of Paradise Regained in order to begin his ministry.
BIBLICAL HISTORY-From his first few lines forward, Milton situates Jesus’s achievements in the context of Old
Testament scripture. Jesus will bring about a new “Eden” in “the waste wilderness” (I.7): he will thus atone for the
sins of Adam and Eve, whose disobedience to God warranted their exile from Eden and brought suffering upon
humankind.
Literary Devices
Oxymoron-In the first stanza, an oxymoron is present is in line 23. Milton effectively uses oxymorons to denote the
purification of sin from mankind and to have them eradicated, from “dark” to “illumines”, and “low” to “raise.” This
contradiction reveals the paths that man had obtained after being cast out of Eden, to either despise God like Lucifer,
or to act under God’s authority. The correct choice of man resulted in the sacrifice of Jesus, which lead to the
reconnection between man and God. Another usage of an oxymoron is ‘darkness visible’ in lines 62-63. It serves as a
contribution to the overall theme of Heaven and Hell in the epic which will be analyzed later. With the comparison
between light and darkness, it is apparent that Milton wishes to provide a clear contrast between the two intangible
ideas in order to give the reader a concise distinction between darkness and light; heaven and hell.
Conclusion
By the conclusion of the heroic epic the speaker informs the audience, “The Son of God, with Godlike force
endu’d” (602) and “regain’d lost Paradise” (608). Milton reflects on Adam’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden by
making clear, “for though that seat of earthly bliss be fail’d, / A fairer Paradise is founded now” (612–613). Although
Satan may control man from hell for a time, he remains defeated and tormented by Christ’s victory and will “. . .
hereafter learn with awe / To dread the Son of God” (625–626).
The message of the poem is that people should practice Christian heroism. This is the idea that moral
strength and steadfast belief in God are powerful traits.
Famous Quotes
“A mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav’n.”