"Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n"
John Milton
Paradise Lost is an epic poem written by the 17th century English Poet John Milton. The poem talks about mans first disobedience and his descend from paradise. Published in 1667 it was spread over ten books and was written mainly in blank verse. The second edition which was published in 1674 was divided into twelve books.
The basic story of ‘Paradise Lost' is the fall of man, the succumbing to temptation of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from Paradise.
The eternal debate will always boil down to who is the real hero of Paradise Lost? For many it's the unrelenting and charismatic Satan. He is intriguing, compelling and is the embodiment of evil. However flawed he may be, we are drawn to his magnetism and charm like bees to honey. You know he stands for all the evil around us - but yet, you succumb to his ethereal magic.
Even as Lucifer (the arch angel who fell from heaven because he refused to believe he was equal to the other angels) Satan knew what he wanted. He felt it ‘better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven".
Satan is and could be the embodiment of all the ill of man kind, but when you read the poem (or at least try and read it) you realize that somewhere during the course of reading the book, there is a bit of sympathy you feel for the poor devil (no pun intended!)
Mankind's first parents Adam and Eve are seen to suffer because of Satan. Here Milton opens the door for yet, another debate. Why is Eve shown as the weaker sex? Why is she inferior to Adam? And why is she shown to be a narcissist who falls in love with her own reflection? It is this vanity which prompts Satan (now disguised as a snake) to tempt Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.
From there begin the downfall of Man.
God in ‘Paradise Lost' is shown as omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. You hear about him, he is everywhere - but you never see him. He is more a personification of many characters rather like a whole finite being.
Generally considered as the greatest work in the English To know more about language log on to http://www.abouttexts.com, Milton's ‘Paradise Lost' is a poem which makes you question everything around you.
You may have questions but the answers are ambiguous. As always!
In the last book Adam (who is now mortal) is taken atop a mountain in Paradise by Michael. There he sees the future and the sins of his children. He sees the mistakes of Cain and Adel and all of his progeny. Adam is horrified at all the wickedness, depravity lust and greed...he sees the triumph of Moses and the Israelis and finally he sees the Son's sacrifice to save mankind.
God has decided that Adam and Eve be punished. So they are expulsed from Paradise...Only to leave with a pair of clothing (for now man is ashamed of his nakedness).
Hand in hand Adam and Eve leave Paradise forever.
Never to return again.
To know more about literature log on to http://www.abouttexts.com
Shona Caroll is the editor and chief writer of http://www.abouttexts.com/ a blog dedicated to Literature...and everything else you need to know about your favorite writers, poets and literary figure.
Writers are an opinionated lot...come share your view.
It would be most welcome!
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