Note Book Entry Eight

Notebook Entry Eight

Paradise Lost is an epic poem, the first written in English, by John Milton. It was published in 1667 while Milton was in hiding from the English ruler at the time. When reading Paradise Lost it is important to understand Milton’s religious views. In his later years while writing the epic, he came to view all organized Christian churches like the Anglican and Catholic as an obstacle to true faith because of the corruption and greed in the organizations. Milton believed that humans had the power to redeem themselves without the help of the church, an important theme he conveys in Paradise Lost through Adam and Eve’s opportunity for redemption after leaving the Garden of Eden.

Book seven begins with the introduction of the Muse of Astronomy. Milton asks the muse, which is a source of inspiration like the Holy Spirit, for protection against the troublesome beliefs of others who do no have access to their wisdom. Back on Earth, Adam begins asking Raphael about the creation of he and the world. Raphael explains that shortly after the fall of Satan and his rebel followers, God decided to forge a new race. Raphael tells of how God created Earth, and then God spoke to his Son saying, “Let us make now man in our image, man in our similitude and let them rule” (VII. 519-20). Book seven ends with a large multitude of rejoicing in heaving over God’s new creations.

In book eight Raphael and Adam continue to discuss God’s creation. Adam asks about the stars, but Raphael explains that the complexities of God’s creations are beyond Man’s ability to understand. Raphael says, “Live in what state, condition, or degree, contented that thus far hath been revealed” (VIII. 178). Adam explains to Raphael that he awoke from his creation and knew all the names of the plants and animals and could speak. Adam says he went into Eden, and saw God who explained that his only rule was to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge. God then created a companion for Adam from his own rib and named her Eve. Adam explains to Raphael that he is deeply in love with Eve, and overcome with desire for her because of her physical attributes. Raphael warns Adam that he should remember God’s one rule, and not allow passion to overcome reason and cause him to disobey God.

In book nine, Satan returns to Eden eight days after being forced out by Gabriel as a serpent because it was “the subtlest beast of all the field” (IX. 86). The next morning Eve convinces Adam that they should tend the Garden separately, even though Adam warns her that she is more vulnerable alone. Satan in the form of a serpent finds Eve alone and begins to talk to her. Eve asks Satan what gave him the ability to speak and he takes her to the Tree of Knowledge, claiming that its fruit gave him the power of speech. Satan convinces Eve to eat the fruit of the tree, and she does. She immediately runs to Adam and he also eats from the tree as his physical passion for Eve outweighs his reason. Adam and Eve both fall into a deep sleep after engaging in “amorous play” (IX. 1045). After waking, they are overcome with shame and guilt as Paradise has come to an end.

Book ten opens with a scene in Heaven where God assembles the angels and tells them that he knew Adam and Eve would yield to Satan’s temptation. He sends the Son down to Eden to judge Adam and Eve. The Son condemns the serpent to crawl on its belly, causes women to have the pain of childbirth, and makes men labor in the ground to make their food. All of mankind will be subject to death, and have to return to the dust for which they were made. The scene switches from Earth to Hell where Satan meets Sin and Death as they are crossing the bridge from Hell to Earth. Sin congratulates Satan on him causing the fall of Man and falsely tells him that he controls Earth. Satan enters Hell to find all of his fallen angels have been turned to snakes inside