Kellie Elhai

Period 2
12/13/2016

Paradise Lost: Last 3 books

1. Milton chooses to continue for another three books after the main conflict is
wrapped up to tie everything together back into humanity. Up to this point, the story
has been largely about Satan, angels, and God, and Milton wishes to bring the focus
back to mankind by introducing the story of the flood and Jesuss arrival. This also
serves as a sort of redemption for Adam and Eve; the readers may have harbored
some negative feelings towards the pair after witnessing their disobedience, but Milton
explains all of the good that stemmed from that deed to lessen the negativity
associated with it. This glimpse into the future is also a sort of open segway, ending
the book with the coming of Jesus Christ, which is a story that the audience of
Paradise Lost likely is very familiar with.
2. From Gods point of view, Adams fault was disobeying his one command,
giving up everything he had. His real crime, however, was listening to Eve, choosing
her over God. To start with, he should have taken better care of Eve, communicating
the possible danger of Satans acts to her and not letting her go off on her own. When
she bit into the apple and her first thought was to share it with Adam, he couldnt resist.
He was completely aware that his actions were wrong and sinful, yet continued to eat
the fruit to be with Eve. When Eve performed the evil deed, she wasnt aware of the
consequences of her actions as Adam was. This upsets the natural order of things, as
men were the ones to give orders back then. The Son asks, Was shee thy God...
(145) to communicate the shame that comes in obeying ones wife over God.
3. Satans ridiculous misinterpretation of what happened to Adam, Eve, and
Himself help to develop Satans character by reinforcing his confidence in his abilities,
yet inability to completely follow through on his actions. Although this is never explicitly
stated and discussed, we can assume that Satan possibly was eager to be done with
his task. He could have some remnants of doubt from his earlier fits of questioning
himself and his disobedience, and simply want to be done with his task. He may not
even wish to actively rebel against Heaven at all. Even so, his bold and cocky
confidence at causing the downfall of Adam and Eve (in which he assumes that their
eating of the Apple would make all of his dreams come true) brings some comedy into
the book after such a heavy couple of chapters; his turning into the snake at the end,
along with all of his compatriots, forces reality in front of his eyes.
4. Book 12 resolves the issue of free will. Free will has been a major theme

throughout the entire book, but its importance and priority has never been fully
established. In the final book of Paradise Lost, Milton establishes that although free
will is vital and a major tool to be utilized, obedience to God always should come first.
Milton uses his last book to fully enforce the message to his readers that has been
present throughout the rest of the chapters: obey God, first and foremost. Milton also
shows Adam how Eves seed with bruise the head of Satan, as was prophesied in an
earlier book. Through the visions of Abraham, Adam is reassured that their legacy will
live on in a more positive light.
5. In Miltons version of Christianity, disaster and virtue are linked, as disaster
seems to pave the way for virtue. God, Adam, and Eves finest natures are revealed in
specific ways only after the Fall, similar to how the best of humanity is preserved and
spread across the earth after the flood wipes away the dirtier parts of human nature.
For example, God is always said to be merciful and forgiving, but he is unable to
demonstrate those qualities unless there is a disaster or sin to forgive. Adam and
Eves evil deed shows the readers that God is forgiving and will accept repentance if it
is truly sincere, but he is also firm in his punishments. The same holds true of Adam
and Eve; after being shown the glimpses into the future, Adam remarks how surprised
he is that so much good could come from such an evil action. Miltons way of
explaining the Fall and what comes thereafter gives the impression that there must be
darkness in order to take more pleasure and joy in the light. Eves children are shown
to carry on their legacy, especially in Abraham, who will bruise Satans head. This
positive and virtuous future that Adam and Even will build outside of Paradise could
not have been possible if they had not sinned by eating the fruit from the Tree of
Knowledge.
6. My reaction to the last image of Adam and Eve setting out, hand in hand, into
the rest of the world is hope: hope for humanity, hope for the future, and hope for
Earth. The image built in my mind is reminiscent of two lovers riding off into the sunset
in pursuit of eternal happiness after defeating their enemy and overcoming the
obstacles that stand in the way of their love. Perhaps that classic, romantic ending
originated from Paradise Lost. The ending is certainly calm and quiet, especially after
all of the sinning and condemning that populated the pages of the previous three
books.
7. Liberty is an appropriate goal or end for this poem, especially when free will
has been a major theme throughout the other eleven and a half books. Its slightly

ironic that it ended on such a set them free note, as Adam and Eve are sent out into
the world to really take advantage of their free will, much more so than they could in
Paradise. As they let go their connection with God, they became more liberated. It
reflects how Earth is connected to Heaven by a chain, and disconnects when Adam
and Eve eat the apple. The Earth itself finds liberation from Heaven and God, as well
as its two human inhabitants.