Paradise Lost

An influential work since its publication in 1667, John Milton’s Paradise Lost has inspired authors and works like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, William Blake’s poetry and even Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Over 300 years after its publication, the 12-book epic poem continues to top the lists of bestselling books of all time. Following two storylines, that of Satan and the other of Adam and Eve, the poem begins with Satan and other rebel angels being banished to Hell after an epic war in heaven where angelic rebels attacked and were defeated by the Son of God. After ridding Heaven of any angels who are not loyal to Him, God creates the World, ending with his creation of Adam and Eve. Organizing a plan with other fallen angels, Satan vows to poison the newly-created Earth and Mankind. The story of Adam and Eve follows this otherworldly tale. Adam and Eve have been created and are living in a perfect world, the paradise of Eden. God has instructed that they tend the garden, be fruitful and multiply and to resist from eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, lest they should die. Satan, disguised in the form of a serpent, successfully tempts Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. Adam commits the same sin, vowing to never leave Eve. Adam and Eve experience lust, guilt and shame for the first time after eating of the fruit and are eventually confronted by God. The poem ends just as the story in the Bible does, with Adam and Eve being cast out of Eden. A vision from the angel Michael shows what will happen to mankind up until the Great Flood and the birth of Jesus Christ. While the poem is based entirely on the Bible’s book of Genesis, Milton takes artistic liberties with the portrayal of Satan, Hell, the Angelic War in Heaven, the characters of Adam and Eve, and Satan taking form as the serpent. Interestingly, Milton’s depiction of Satan and his illustration of Satan as the snake in Eden (elements not mentioned in the Bible) have been adopted as accepted elements in the creation story.