Paradise Lost Comparative

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Apr 3, 2024

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Palmer 1 Taylor Palmer Joseph Couch ENGL 310 5/8/23 Human Suffering and John Milton: Comparative Essay on Paradise Lost John Milton’s Paradise Lost was based and built upon the Bible, specifically Genesis’ tale of Adam and Eve. His utilization of the Bible as his main source allowed Milton to expand on the relationship between God and man. Though the similarities are strong between both pieces of literature, Paradise Lost gives more life and context to characters such as Adam, Eve, and Satan. John Milton’s elaboration of Adam and Eve’s tale of falling from grace has given readers a greater understanding of God’s control and human suffrage while on Earth. John Milton was born in 1608. During his lifetime Milton spent his life dedicated to religion, politics, and his career as a writer of prose and poetry. His existence held influence during three major eras of England; the Civil War, Protectorate, and Restoration. His literary works reflected his religious and political standings which were manifested in both traditional and innovative forms. John Milton was baptized Protestant in the Church of England and he continued to practice his faith his whole life. His education began in his family home where he was tutored by Thomas Young who later became a chaplain to English merchants. Milton went on to attend St. Paul’s School close to his home where Dr. John Donne taught his sermons. At the age of 16, John Milton prepared to enter ministry at Christ’s College in Cambridge where he earned a Master of Arts degree in 1632. With John Milton’s history and upbringing, one can see the obvious religious impact in his writing. Paradise Lost (1667) is no exception with the evident influence and basis of the biblical tale in Genesis.

Palmer 2 Even if one does not know the Book of Genesis from the Bible, one would be hard- pressed to find someone who has not heard of the opening line. “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(“Bible Gateway Passage”) The Book of Genesis can be read as an epic story with an almost tragic saga of a world that cannot get right regardless of its creator’s intentions. In Genesis 2 the focus is turned to Adam and Eve. The first of his kind, human, Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden. “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” (“Bible Gateway Passage”) In the center of the luscious garden resided an untouchable tree. This tree is known as the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam is told by the Lord that he can eat from any tree in the garden but must refrain from eating the Tree of Knowledge for it would be followed by certain death. (“Bible Gateway Passage”) Though Adam was surrounded by plants and animals, he still found himself lonely and without help to maintain the garden. Upon understanding this, God took one of Adam’s ribs and created Eve, thus bringing a woman to man. Moving into The Fall, or Genesis 3, the tale of Adam and Eve begins to spiral when the serpent enters the Garden of Eden. The serpent is known to be craftier than other animals the Lord made and questions his rules. The serpent asked Eve “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (“Bible Gateway Passage”) Which she replied that per Gods word, they may eat any fruit in the garden aside from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. In continuing the verbal exchange the serpent tells Eve that she would not meet certain death from consuming the fruit yet she would be privy to God’s knowledge of good and evil. Eve then took the fruit and ate it and then turned to her husband, Adam, to give him some of the fruit to eat. Upon consumption their eyes opened granting them the emotion of humility. In doing this they decided to cover their nakedness. When the Lord visited the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve’s first instinct was to hide from him

Palmer 3 and was soon followed by the revelation that the humans had ingested the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Upon questioning Adam and Eve, Eve expressed the serpent’s deceit. The Lord was very unhappy cursing them, the land, and the livestock. Eve would then suffer severely during childbirth and would be ruled by her husband Adam who was banished from the Garden of Eden. The Lord then placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth guarding the way to the tree of life for no man shall take from it and eat its fruit being granted eternal life. Paradise Lost, written in 1667 by John Milton focuses on the fall of mankind, or Genesis 3. Though the soul of his story is based upon The Fall of Adam and Eve, Milton takes his time to give a full story and explanation of who and why. With the opening set at the Lake of Fire in Hell, we are introduced to Satan and his fellow rebels. With their escape from chains, the rebels use minerals that they discovered and construct Pandemonium. Within the walls of Pandemonium, the fallen angels, or devils, conversate on beginning another war with God. Beelzebub suggests to corrupt God’s newest creation mankind, Satan quickly agrees and volunteers for the task. Satan is accompanied by his children Sin and Death. In Heaven, God brings together the angels to gather a plan to rebuke the evildoers’ intentions. The Son, whom can be described as the manifestation of God in action, volunteers as tribute to make the sacrifice for humankind. To gain entrance into Paradise, Satan disguises himself as a cherub with the intention to praise God’s glorious creation. Looking upon the magnificence of Paradise, Satan reaffirms his choice to destroy Gods good and creations. Satan’s first interaction with Eve takes place in the form of a toad. Satan goes to Eve in her sleep and whispers to her about eating the forbidden fruit. The second interaction with Eve, Satan is in the form of a serpent. He speaks to Eve of her beauty and godliness. Surprised that an animal can speak, the serpent reveals to Eve that it is because he at from the Tree of Knowledge and that God actually wants her and Adam to

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