Paradise Lost Lecture Notes
Key Figures and Themes in Paradise Lost
Adam
Role: Designated as the "patriarch of mankind". Represents both strength and emotional vulnerability.
Post-Fall Characterization: Becomes self-pitying and blames Eve after their act of disobedience. Symbolizes the shift from reason to emotional turmoil. E.g. "Is this the Love, is this the recompence / Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve".
Relationship with Eve: Initially embraces the partnership of love but later demonstrates a submissive reaction towards God’s judgment; indicative of a flawed patriarchal societal construct.
Eve
Representation: Initially depicted in "virgin majesty", her transition post-fall reflects a deepening of misogynistic themes.
Independence vs. Obedience: Exhibits moments of agency, asserting "our reason is our law" yet ultimately succumbs to temptation and blame.
Misogyny: Seen as "the fair defect / Of nature", reflecting societal constructs that deem women as inferior. Quote: "Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule".
Satan
Characterization: Portrayed as an "orator renown", manipulates language and rhetoric to deceive. His appealing despair, "Me miserable! which way shall I fly / Infinite wrath, infinite despair?", evokes both admiration and empathy.
Hero or Antihero: Represents a duality; a rebel challenging tyranny and a tyrant himself.
Cunning Use of Rhetoric: Uses flattery and irony to lead Eve into temptation, reflecting on the complexities of free will and autonomy. Asserts, "Better to reign in hell than serve in Heaven".
Theological Constructs
God: Described as a harsh judge, with characteristics that merit scrutiny. Reflects a complex relationship with authority and free will; e.g., God's defense regarding the fall of Adam and Eve becomes a focus of moral questioning.
The Son: Functions as both an epic hero and a representation of compassion, contrasting the Father's authority. His descent symbolizes redemption through suffering.
Important Poetic Devices
Rhetorical Techniques: Milton employs various rhetorical devices (e.g., anaphora, chiasmus, hyperbole) to enrich character speech and enhance thematic depth.
Imagery and Symbolism: Features half-formed metaphors, traditional emblems, and vivid comparisons to convey complex ideas.
Themes of Knowledge
Knowledge vs. Obedience: Central to the narrative; the fruit of knowledge symbolizes disobedience and the complicated nature of free will. Characters grapple with the tension between human understanding and divine command.
Interpretation of the Fall: Viewed as "felix culpa" (happy fall), suggesting that knowledge and disobedience ultimately lead to spiritual awakening.
Summary of Books 9 and 10
Book 9: Depicts Eve's seduction by Satan and her eventual choice to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to shared sin and mutual blame.
Book 10: Contrasts the consequences of sin, including the emergence of Sin and Death, and the judgment faced by Adam and Eve; highlights notions of reconciliation and redemption.
Gender and Relationships
Redefinition of Marriage: Milton discounts traditional views, focusing on intellectual companionship rather than procreation, depicting marriage as a conversation rooted in love.
Misogynistic Underpinnings: Eve's fall and Adam's subsequent blame exemplify entrenched gender roles reflecting patriarchal values prevalent in Milton's context.
Conclusion
This complex interplay of characters and themes in "Paradise Lost" challenges and redefines elements of heroism, gender dynamics, and the human condition, framed within a deeply theological discourse.