Characters, Themes, and Style in Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost features a cast of complex characters, explores profound themes, and is written in a distinctive style that has cemented its place in the canon of English literature.
Characters
Satan is perhaps the most intriguing character in the poem. During the opening, he is often considered a "hero" because he exhibits many characteristics of the tragic epic hero: leadership, courage, a refusal to accept defeat, and a willingness to undertake desperate enterprises. Milton draws parallels between himself and Satan, as both possess rebellious natures.
Highlight: The complexity of Satan's character in Paradise Lost has led to centuries of literary debate about his role as an anti-hero or villain.
Adam, the first man, is portrayed with depth and nuance. His choice to disobey God reveals his full, frail humanity. Adam's main weakness is his infatuation with Eve, which ultimately contributes to their shared fall from grace.
Themes
Paradise Lost explores several profound themes:
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Obedience and rebellion: The poem narrates the story of Adam and Eve's disobedience and examines how and why it occurred.
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Fate and free will: Satan is determined to be free, even though the price of his freedom is banishment to Hell. This theme resonates throughout the poem, raising questions about the nature of choice and its consequences.
Quote: "The mind is its own place, and in itself / Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven." This famous line from Satan's speech encapsulates the theme of mental freedom versus physical circumstances.
Style
The style of Paradise Lost is grand and serious, befitting its weighty subject matter. Milton employs an elevated and complex language, characterized by Latin syntax and challenging vocabulary. He introduced a new kind of blank verse and used elaborate similes to intensify the heroic stature of his subjects.
Vocabulary: Blank verse - Unrhymed iambic pentameter, the verse form used in Paradise Lost.
Paradise Lost is classified as an epic poem, a genre Milton chose due to the grandeur of his subject matter: the fall of man. He adhered to traditional epic conventions, such as opening the poem with a precise statement of its theme. However, Milton also innovated within the genre. For instance, Satan is portrayed not as a traditional warrior, but as a more philosophical central character, reflecting the changing spirit of Milton's age.
Example: The opening lines of Paradise Lost - "Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit / Of that forbidden tree" - follow the epic convention of stating the poem's theme at the outset.
The Satan's speech at the beginning of the poem is a prime example of Milton's poetic prowess. In this speech, Satan compares Hell to Heaven and himself to God, asserting that the only difference between them is the power God possesses. Satan's declaration that he could "make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven" showcases his defiance and the poem's exploration of power and perspective.
Quote: "Here at least / We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built / Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: / Here we may reign secure; and, in my choice, / To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: / Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." This excerpt from Satan's speech is one of the most famous passages in Paradise Lost.
In conclusion, John Milton's Paradise Lost stands as a monumental work of English literature, its complex characters, profound themes, and distinctive style continuing to captivate readers and scholars alike. The poem's exploration of free will, rebellion, and the nature of good and evil remains relevant and thought-provoking to this day.
