Paradise Lost Summary How It All Goes Down Paradise Lost opens with Satan on the surface of a boiling lake of lava in Hell (ouch!); he has just fallen from Heaven, and wakes up to find himself in a seriously horrible place. He finds his first lieutenant (his right-hand man), and together they get off the lava lake and go to a nearby plain, where they rally the fallen angels. They have a meeting and decide to destroy Adam and Eve (God's children and precious science experiment) in order to spite God. Satan volunteers for the job and leaves Hell to go look for Adam and Eve. The scene then shifts to Heaven (Book 3), where God talks about how he can see what Satan is planning. He knows everything all the time. He has a conversation with His Son, says he knows that Satan will tempt mankind and that Adam and Eve will eat the fruit of the Forbidden Tree. He needs to know if anyone will intervene on man's behalf. The Son volunteers, which makes God and all the angels in Heaven very happy. The scene shifts again, this time to Eden. Satan has reached the Garden, and we see Eden and Adam and Eve for the first time through his eyes. We watch Adam and Eve hang out together for a while, before going into their hut to go to bed and make love. Meanwhile, God has sent out a search party to get Satan out of the Garden, which is easy as pie. The next day, God sends the angel Raphael to talk to Adam and Eve about Satan and whatever else they might want to know. About a week after Adam's chat with Raphael, Satan returns to the Garden, disguises himself as a serpent (snake), and convinces Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit. She in turn convinces Adam to have a taste. After that, they have steamy, lustful sex for the first time. As a result of Adam and Eve's sin (eating the Forbidden Fruit), the gates of Hell are now wide open for Sin and Death (who are actual characters in this poem) to build a bridge from Hell to earth. Satan returns to Hell triumphant, but he and his angels are eventually turned into serpents as punishment for Satan's evil deed. As for Adam and Eve's punishment, God makes them leave the Garden of Eden. He also introduces death, labor pains, and a bunch of other not-so-fun stuff into the world. Before they leave Paradise, however, God sends the angel Michael down to give Adam a vision of the future. After his history lesson, Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden in what is one of the saddest moments in English literature. Paradise Lost Book 1 Summary The poem opens with an invocation; that's when the speaker asks the muses ancient deities thought to inspire poetry and art to inspire him, give him the ability to perform, etc. We see speakers talk to their muses in the beginning of a lot of epic poems; check out the first lines of the Iliad. He asks the muses to sing about "man's first disobedience" (1), the Forbidden Fruit, his exile from Eden, his eventual redemption through Jesus Christ, etc. Soon, the scene shifts to a burning inferno; we're in Hell with Satan, only Hell isn't below the earth but somewhere way out in the middle of nowhere, a place Milton calls Chaos. Milton's universe is tricky, so we'll give you a quick lay of the land. Basically, the created universe (the earth, the sun, the planets, the stars, etc.) is an enclosed globe or spherical structure. This structure hangs from Heaven by a golden chain. Everything outside the sphere and Heaven is called Chaos, with Hell at the end opposite to Heaven and the universe. Head over to "Best of the Web" to see some pictures. Satan looks around bewildered; apparently he's just fallen from Heaven and hasn't quite adjusted to his new surroundings. It's hot, and there's a weird "darkness visible" all around. He notices his first mate, Beelzebub. Satan addresses Beelzebub, saying he doesn't look like the friend he knew in Heaven (apparently, the fallen angels have also undergone a change in appearance as well as location). Satan describes how he and a bunch of other angels fought with God and lost. Although they've been beaten, all is not lost. Beelzebub responds, saying that he's upset and worried about the current state of affairs. He suggests that the only reason they still feel strong and courageous still feel alive is so that they can completely experience their punishment and satisfy God's "vengeful ire." Satan responds, saying that their goal from now on is to be evil: "To do ought good never will be our task, / But ever to do ill our sole delight" (1.159-60). If God does something good, they will try to screw it up. Satan suggests that he and Beelzebub move to a nearby plain and think about how to war against God, deal with the horrors of their circumstances, and repair their losses. As Satan moves towards the plain, the narrator describes him: he is much bigger than any of the famous giants of classical mythology or the bible. He is so big, a sailor might mistake him for an island and attempt to moor his boat there. He moves off the lake and flies these fallen angels still have their wings to the plain, which is also burning. Beelzebub eventually follows him. Satan looks around and says it's not so bad because he'd rather be as far from God as possible. He then suggests that his forces reassemble on the plain so they can figure out a plan of action. Satan goes to the shore of the burning lake to beckon the fallen angels; his shield is almost as big as the moon and his spear is much bigger than the biggest mast of a ship. The fallen angels are scattered on the lake like a whole bunch of leaves, or just like a whole bunch of reeds in the Red Sea. Satan addresses the fallen angels, and he can't believe they've been vanquished. He tells them to rise up now, or remain fallen forever. They rise up very quickly, as if they've been caught napping while on duty (that's Milton's comparison not ours!). The angels assemble in squadrons, just like an organized army. There are a ton of them! The leaders of the squadrons assemble close to Satan, the "great commander." These leaders will eventually become the various pagan deities described in the Old Testament (the first half of the Bible that deals with the times before Jesus) that the Israelites worshipped (sinfully) alongside God. The first to come is Moloch, who is covered in blood. He somehow deceived Solomon an Old Testament king to build a temple for him. Next comes Chemos; after the Israelites made it out of Egypt, they started spending a lot of time with non-Hebrew peoples and eventually started worshipping this guy. With Chemos and Moloch come Baalim and Ashtaroth. Both of these are general words to refer to types of male and female pagan deities found in the region that is now the modern-day middle east, especially Syria, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan. Astoreth or Astarte, as the Phoenicians called her, also comes with the fallen angels. She was worshipped by Phoenician virgins and also by the Israelites in their promised land! Thammuz comes next; he was supposedly wounded every year, which caused the river Adonis to become a purplish color because of his blood. Next comes Dagon, a Philistine sea-god whose upper half is man, the lower fish. After him comes Rimmnon, a deity worshipped in what is now modern-day Syria. Next come the bestial and beastly Egyptian gods with animal heads Isis, Osiris, and Orus. The last to arrive is Belial; nobody ever built a temple for him, but he can be found everywhere. He loves vice for itself, and is associated with insolent debauchery. There were a lot of other fallen angels, but it would take forever to name them all, says our narrator. For example, there were also the Olympian gods that the Ancient Greeks worshipped. A lot of other devils come, and they all look unhappy, though they appear to have some hope left. They are glad to find that Satan is not in total despair. Satan rekindles their hope with a speech that sounds good but is really a bunch of rubbish (so says the narrator), and he demands that his flag be unfurled. When all the fallen angels see the flag (it shines like a meteor), the individual squadrons raise their flags, spears, and shields and roar with one loud voice. The soldiers start marching (silently) to the tune of some hellish pipes, and eventually assemble in front of Satan, waiting for his command. Satan stands like a tower over his army (the biggest ever assembled); he's still got some of the old fire still left in him, even after falling a really long way. Satan tries three times to speak to his minions, but he keeps bursting into tears! Satan can cry? Since when?! Finally he starts speaking, noting that they are brave soldiers and nobody could have foreseen that such an awesome army could ever be defeated. Don't worry, he tells them, they will rise again, but they can't fight God in the same way. They have to use "fraud or guile" this time. The rumor-mill says God intends to create another world, and Satan says they should devote their energies to messing with that world. Satan finishes, and his legions all draw their swords as a sign of approval. A group of fallen angels led by Mammon the greedy, money-loving devil head towards a volcano rich with "metallic ore." They start digging in it and eventually unearth a bunch of gold. A second group works to separate the ore from the rock with the help of liquid fire there's a burning lake nearby just right for the purpose while a third group pours the ore into a mould. Eventually, a huge edifice emerges; it looks like a huge temple and has sculptures adorning it, huge pillars, and even a golden roof. It is more magnificent than anything ever seen on earth. The fallen angels enter the building, now given the name Pandemonium, to have a council. It is swarming with angels, almost like a beehive. All of a sudden, the fallen angels, which a minute before were bigger than giants, now shrink to the size of little elves or dwarves (this is so that they can all fit inside Pandemonium). The squadron leaders retain their giant size (they don't shrink) and gather together for the great debate in Hell. Paradise Lost Book 2 Summary Book 2 opens with Satan sitting on his throne; he addresses his legions, saying that he still hopes to regain Heaven. He says that now they must debate about the most effective way to fight God; he asks whether all out war or something more subtle is better. Moloch speaks first; he's in favor of open war with God. They should just batter God's throne with all they've got because things can't be possibly get any worse. Belial a really clever speaker is up next. He's not in favor of open war because Heaven is too well-fortified and will easily expel the foreign invaders. And besides, being an angel, even in Hell, is better than death; things could be worse. They could be burned alive by the fires of Hell, chained to the burning lake, etc. Actually, Belial is against any form of war because God will figure out their plans and defeat them. Who knows? Maybe God will relax his punishment if they just put up with it for a while. Mammon is up next; he says it is impossible to defeat God and, even if He forgives everybody, they'll have to be slaves and pay tribute to Him. Not worth it. They should just do what they want in Hell, because they're free there. With a little hard work, they can make the best of their situation. There is applause after this speech; the fallen angels are afraid of another war, and would rather build an empire in Hell to rival Heaven's. Beelzebub rises up; he says it's a joke to think they can have their own empire in Hell. God will eventually exert his dominion over it too. There will be no peace, but they don't necessarily have to assault Heaven. Rumor has it that God is building a new world. They should check it out. Maybe they can destroy mankind, or "Seduce them to our [the devil's] party" (2.368). The fallen angels vote in favor of Beelzebub's plansupposedly. It sounds rigged. He resumes his speech and asks who is bold enough to try and find this new world? Nobody volunteers, and all the angels are afraid; this is a bold, important, and dangerous task. Satan stands up and addresses the council. He says Hell is a really strong prison and it's hard to get out; if one gets out, then one has to deal with a dark place that has no being ("unessential Night"). It's like stepping off the planet into something unknown. He says he wouldn't be a good sovereign, though, if he were afraid of doing something. He's the leader and should brave more dangers. He'll look for the new world. He tells the angels to make Hell cozier while he's away. The fallen angels greatly respect their leader; they treat him like a "Godequal to the highest in Heav'n" (2.479). He's risking his own life for their sake after all. They shouldn't get too excited; this prospect is kind of like a gleam of sunshine when it's clearly going to rain. The highest-ranking angels emerge from Pandemonium with Satan, who is surrounded by a group of heavily-armed soldiers. Trumpets made of fake gold proclaim the result of the council; Hell resounds with cheering. The leaders each go their own way, to relax or chill out to find "truce for [their] restless thoughts'' while they wait for Satan to return. Some angels tear up rocks and create a huge ruckus; some of them go off and sing songs. Still others go off in the hills to meditate on philosophical subjects. Some even have races! One group assembles into platoons and goes in search of an "easier habitation" i.e., a nicer place to live. Each group travels along the banks of one of the four rivers of Hell (Styx, Acheron, Cocytus, Phlegeton). Beyond these is the river of forgetfulness, Lethe. And beyond that, the platoons discover that Hell is a frozen wasteland. Huh? That's right, it's snowing and there's hail. Basically it's like Antarctica. It's so cold, though, it almost burns. "Cold performs the effect of Fire," Milton says. Apparently the fallen angels will be forced to spend time in this part of Hell on a regular basis, frozen in ice; the change from fire to ice is brutal. Meanwhile, Satan makes his way towards the gates of Hell, which are very strong, and surrounded by fire. There are three of them (one brass, one iron, one "adamantine rock"). There are two figures on either side of the gate. The first is female from the head to the waste, and below the waist she is serpentine. Around her waist are little hell-hounds that constantly bark but sometimes retreat into her womb. Disgusting! The other is dark and black; he appears shapeless, and is very terrible (sorry, that's all Milton gives us). He wears a fake crown on his head, and is introduced at line 666. Hmmm. Satan is not afraid; he addresses them, saying he's going through that gate no matter what. The male asks him if he's the rebel angel that started a huge war in Heaven. He (the shapeless figure) is in charge here, not Satan. Satan and this figure stare each other down (like two thunder clouds), almost as if they were about to duel. Each plans to kill the other with one stroke, but the female jumps between them. She asks Satan why he's about to kill his.son! And she asks the other why he's about kill hisfather! Satan asks her what she's talking about, and she tells him: during the planning of the revolt in Heaven, she (still unnamed) sprung forth from the left side of his head! The rebel angels named her Sin. Satan had a secret sexual relationship with his daughter Sin and impregnated her; she fell with the angels from Heaven, was given the key to Hell, and gave birth to Death (the shapeless guy). Death eventually raped ("embraces forcible and foul") Sin (his mother), who gave birth to those hell hounds around her waist. They howl and gnaw out her insides. Satan tells Sin that he's trying to free his angels and that he's going in search of God's newly-created world. He'll let Sin and Death roam free there if he finds it. Sin says that God has forbidden her to open the gates. Why should she listen to God, though, since He's exiled her? Besides, he's not her real dad, Satan is. Sin opens the gates; a thunderous sound is heard, and flames and smoke burst out. Beyond is "a dark/ Illimitable Ocean without bound,/ Without dimension" (2.891-893). Satan observes this place it's called Chaos, and it is hot, cold, moist, and dry all at once. It's really loud, louder than the sounds of war or the sound of the earth imploding. Satan takes flight; his journey takes him over a number of strange, hybrid substances; he has to walk-fly, crawl, swim, basically move in every which way. This is Chaos, after all. He hears some sounds and moves towards them, eventually coming to Chaos' throne. He tells him (Chaos) that he's trying to find the borders of Heaven and asks for directions. Chaos says he knows who he is; he heard the angels fall and saw the heavenly angels pursue them. He directs Satan towards earth, and Satan takes off like a pyramid of fire. Satan approaches Heaven, and he can see its light shining into the dark abyss. He also notices the universe (Milton calls it the "world"), hanging from Heaven by a golden chain. He moves towards it "full fraught with mischievous revenge." Paradise Lost Book 3 Summary Milton addresses the light emanating from Heaven, saying it is God's first "offspring." This is the second invocation of the poem. The poet is now revisiting Heaven, after having spent the first two books in Hell. He still feels the heavenly light, but he can't see it because he's blind. This doesn't prevent him from writing poetry, however. He's too tough for that. The poet hasn't forgotten about other famous blind poets and prophets, such as Homer and Tiresias; he's "equal" to them in blindness and hopes to be "equal" to them in fame. The poet can't see anything so he asks the "celestial light" to shine inward i.e., give him some kind of mental vision so he can compose poetry and talk about things that most humans can't see anyway (Heaven, Hell, the past, etc.). God is in Heaven, looking down at his angels, at Adam and Eve, and at Satan. His Son (not named Jesus yet) sits on his right. God describes Satan's malice to His Son. God knows what he's (Satan) up to, and he knows that Satan will succeed in his attempts to tempt mankind. Everyone man and angels included has a choice. If they didn't have a choice, their obedience to God would be a joke; it wouldn't be meaningful. God stresses that predestination doesn't exist; both mankind, Satan, and the other rebel angels fell by their own choice: "they themselves decreed/ Their own revolt, not I" (3.116-7). Because mankind was deceived, he will find grace at some point. Satan and company will get nothing. God's Son responds. He praises God's resolution regarding man (i.e., that he will have grace) because it simply isn't possible that Satan should win. God responds, telling his Son that he's read his mind exactly. Some men will be saved, but not because of their own will but because of God's grace. God says everyone will have the ability to hear his call; he'll implant a conscience in them, which will help them achieve grace, Heaven, or whatever safely. But wait, what about all of man's sins? They have no way of making up for those, unless someone will become mortal and die for their sins. Any volunteers? Heaven stands "mute." Nobody wants to make the sacrifice. This could have been the end for mankind if the Son hadn't stood up. He'll do it; he'll become mortal and die for man's sins. The Son says he knows he'll be giving up a lot in Heaven, but he also knows that he won't really die (he's immortal after all). He'll rise from the dead, defeat Satan and death itself, and lead Hell captive. Then he'll return to Heaven. God responds to the Son, saying essentially "thank God for you my Son, otherwise man would have been toast." The entire human race will be saved through the intercession of his Son, and through him only. The Son won't degrade himself by becoming a man, says God; so great a sacrifice will do nothing but exalt him. Moreover, He will then make his Son sole ruler of the universe. "All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide / In Heaven, or Earth, or under earth in Hell" (3.321-322). God continues, saying that eventually there will be a Last Judgment ("doom") when the Son will send some people to Hell and some to Heaven. After that, Hell will be closed off completely, the earth will be burned, and a new Heaven and earth will emerge. All Heaven resounds with hymns of praise, cheering, and "jubilee." The angels bow down before God's and the Son's thrones, before picking up their harps and making music. The narrator tells us that the Son is God's agent; it was through the Son that he created the universe and through him that he defeated the rebel angels. Meanwhile, Satan emerges from Chaos at the outer edge of the created universe. He's like a vulture in the Himalayas who can't find any food so he goes in search of more fertile pastures but then stops off in a barren region. From his position he can see Heaven's gate it is made with diamonds, gold, and other jewels and a set of stairs that go from the created universe up to Heaven. At the bottom of the stairs is a portal that opens into the universe; Satan looks through the portal, almost as if he had been hiking all night and finally got to the top of a hill from which he could see an entire land or city, glistening in the dawn's light. Satan doesn't stick around to enjoy the view but flies right through the portal. He lands on the sun! It's really bright "beyond expression bright" and colorful. Satan looks around the universe it's always sunny, no shade yet. He sees an angel in the sun with his back turned and a tiara on his head. He looks busy, or at least as if he's thinking deeply. Satan quickly changes his appearance; he turns into a young Cherub (a different order of angel) and approaches the angel, who turns around when he hears Satan approaching. It's Uriel, one of the seven angels who stand closest to God's throne. Satan addresses him, saying he wants to check out God's new creation. He asks him which planet is man's. Uriel who can't tell he's being duped responds to Satan, saying there's nothing wrong with wanting to see God's creations. Uriel himself saw the world created; he points out the location of Paradise (i.e., the Garden of Eden) for Satan, who thanks him and heads towards the earth, landing on Mt. Niphates. Paradise Lost Book 4 Summary The narrator interjects, saying he wishes it had been possible for mankind to have been warned of Satan's plans so they could have avoided succumbing to temptation. Satan is angry about losing the battle in Heaven, and he plans to take his anger out on mankind. He can never really escape from Hell, because the true Hell is within him. He addresses the sun. He tells him he hates his beams because they remind him of what he once was. But he was already so close to the top, he couldn't resist trying to go all the way, trying to defeat God. He didn't want to remain in a state of "subjection" to God, he says. Satan is really upset. His despair is only getting worse: "Which way I fly is Hell; my self am Hell" (4.75). Satan says God will never forgive him because he knows that if he (Satan) were allowed to re-enter Heaven, he would eventually try to overthrow God again. There will never be peace. Satan therefore resolves on evil because he has no hope or fear: "Evil be thou my Good," he says. He and God will rule a "Divided Empire." Satan is so angry that his face changes colors: "each passion dimmed his face / Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy and despair" (4.114-5). Uriel notices this from his position in the sun. Satan approaches the edge of Paradise, which is at the top of a steep, overgrown hill. The sides of the hill are covered with bushes and trees. The wall of Paradise stands tall at the top. Above the wall can be seen a "circling row / Of goodliest trees loaden with fairest Fruit." Pleasant air, "gales," and "perfumes" emanate from Paradise. Satan can't climb the hill; it's so thick and wooded. The only gate is on the other side (the eastern side); he decides to just jump clear over it, like a wolf or a thief. He lands on the top of the Tree of Life to observe Eden; it is "A Heaven on Earth." Right next to the Tree of Life is the Tree of Knowledge, which caused humanity's "death." Paradise is as beautiful as one would think; gorgeous lawns, sheep grazing in peace, every succulent type of fruit, every type of flower, ambrosial odors, etc.; even the roses are "without thorn." Satan sees all the "delight" of Paradise "undelighted," and then notices "Two of far nobler shape erect and tall." One is male, the other female; they seem (to Satan) somewhat unequal. "For contemplation he and valor formed, / For softness she and sweet attractive grace." He looks strong, and she looks soft and sweet. They're both naked; the woman has long hair down to her waist; Adam's hair only goes to his shoulders. She's clearly subservient to him, but it's not slave-like. She yields with the utmost love. They are "the loveliest pair / That ever since in love's embraces met" (4.321-322). They've just finished gardening and are sitting down to a meal of nectarines. All the animals play near them; we do mean all! Milton mentions lions and elephants. Satan sees all this and exclaims, "Oh Hell." He says little do they know what's in store for him. Soon, he'll drag them (so he thinks) to Hell. He jumps down from the tree among the animals and changes his shape into a lion, then a tiger. His ears perk up as he hears Adam address Eve. Adam says God must be infinitely good; he gave them Paradise, has absolutely no need for anything they can provide, and has only given them one easy rule: don't eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Eve replies, saying essentially "you're right honey." She remembers when she was born. She explains how she wandered over to a lake and was startled by her own reflection in the water. A voice led her to Adam. She tried to turn away from Adam because he was "less faire" and "less amiably mild" than her own reflection in the water. Adam called her back, telling her that she was created from his side and that he claims her as his "other half." Satan sees all this and is sickened; he calls it a "Sight hateful, sight tormenting." They get to have a paradise and each other and he's stuck in Hell. Ugh! He says he can't understand why they're not allowed to possess knowledge. He will "excite" their desire to know, and trick them into disobeying God's one command. In the meantime, he plans to find out more information, and goes in search of other angels that might be hanging out in Eden. The sun is setting in the west. The light glances off the eastern gate of Paradise, which ascends to the clouds and Heaven. Gabriel, an angel, sits at the top and watches over Paradise. Uriel comes to Gabriel on a sunbeam, just like a shooting star. He tells Gabriel that a strange guy came asking for information earlier. He later recognized him as "one of the banished crew." Gabriel says if someone snuck into Eden, he'll find out by morning who it is. Uriel departs as night falls. A beautiful description of twilight and evening ensues. Adam says to Eve that it's time for bed; God has ordained periods of labor and rest, after all. He tells her about some of their laborious gardening projects for the next day. Eve says she obeys whatever Adam says because "so God ordains." She really loves Adam, so much so that she wouldn't like any of it if he weren't there to share it with her. Adam responds, telling Eve all about why the stars and heavens shine. He also talks about various "celestial voices" that he has heard about night, singing the praises of God. Adam and Eve enter their "bower," a pretty "lodge" with all kinds of flowers on the walls and floor. As they approach, they look up to the sky and praise God and his creations. They enter their home, and make love: "nor Eve the Rites/ Mysterious of connubial love refused" (4.743-744). This is Paradise, and God said be fruitful and multiply. Besides, this is the purest love imaginable. While they sleep, Gabriel tells his second in command, Uzziel, to take a squadron and check the south of Eden. He (Gabriel) will check the north with another group. He orders Ithuriel and Zephon, two other angels, to search for the rebel angel in Eden. They find him disguised as a toad, whispering poisonous thoughts into Eve's ear. Ithuriel touches him with his spear, and he then turns back to his normal shape. They ask Satan which rebel angel he is. He responds by saying, "Don't you guys know who I am? If you don't, you must be really low on the totem pole because all important angels know me." Zephon responds by saying he looks different than when he was in Heaven. He now looks like his new home, Hell. He says Satan must answer to Gabriel. After some more banter, they lead Satan to where Gabriel and his squadrons are waiting. Gabriel recognizes Satan as the leader of the fallen angels and tells his soldiers to be ready for a fight. Gabriel asks Satan why he's left his prison in Hell. Satan replies that he used to think Gabriel was wise but not after this question. Who wouldn't try to leave the gloom of Hell for something better? Gabriel sarcastically responds, saying what a shame that Heaven lost such a great judge of wisdom as Satan. He asks him why Satan came alone; surely if he told his angels he was looking for something better they would have followed. Satan responds, saying he's not afraid of pain. What would Gabriel know about a leader's duty to accept hardship for his followers? He has braved the dangers of exploration Gabriel calls Satan a liar. First he (Satan) said he was looking for pleasure and now he gives this line about being a spy of some kind? And he calls himself faithful? What a joke, says Gabriel, as he tells Satan to get back to Hell. Satan says Gabriel can say that once he's chained him. They stare at each other in defiance. A battle seems about to happen until God drops a pair of scales from Heaven. The scales weigh the alternatives of parting or fighting; parting wins out i.e., Satan better leave or he'll be badly beaten because he's outnumbered. Gabriel tells Satan to take a look at the scales; Satan does, realizes there's no point, and takes off. Paradise Lost Book 5 Summary The sun is rising as Adam awakes from a smooth sleep; he looks at his wife, who is still sleeping. She looks rough, as if she had a bad dream. Adam speaks to her. She wakes up, tells Adam he's perfect, and then mentions that she's had a rough night. She didn't dream of him, like she usually does, but of someone else whispering at hear ear telling her to come forth. She wanders out (in her dream) and ends up at the "Tree/ Of interdicted Knowledge," where there is an angel-looking guy there. He asks why knowledge is forbidden, says that's a stupid rule, and takes a bite of the fruit. Eve is shocked at so bold a deed; the angelic figure tells her: "Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods/ Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confined" (5.77-78). Eve eats the fruit and flies up to Heaven with the angel; he disappears, she sinks back down, and then wakes up. Adam is concerned. He concludes it has something to do with the "Fancy," which can make up crazy images and ideas while one is asleep. He says something like this: "let's not worry about it because I know you won't eat the fruit. We have work to do." Eve sheds a tear, and is about to shed more but Adam kisses them before they fall. They exit their bower and offer "orisons" or prayers to God. They say the beauty of the world proclaims His goodness, and they exhort all of nature (the winds, the streams, flowers, etc.) to praise their maker. Adam and Eve get down to work in Eden. God observes them, with pity (why?), and calls Raphael, the "sociable spirit," to his side. He tells him (Raphael) that Satan is causing a ruckus in Paradise, and orders him to go and tell Adam about it. Raphael immediately departs and heads for earth. He lands on the eastern cliff of Paradise, where all the other angels on watch recognize him. He has six wings (three pairs, on the shoulders, the waist, and the heels); he shakes them (heavenly fragrance is dispersed while he does this) and starts walking. Adam is sitting in the door of his bower (Eve is inside preparing fruits), and sees Raphael approaching. It's high noon. Adam tells Eve to get everything (food-wise) together for their guest, who is so bright he seems like another sun "another morn" rising at midday. Eve says she'll go pick the best fruits and foods she can from their garden. She departs "on hospitable thoughts intent." Meanwhile, Adam walks forth to meet Raphael and invites to lunch and hang out in his bower until the "meridian heat" is over. Raphael agrees. They approach the bower, where Eve is waiting, naked ("undecked"). Fruits of all seasons are spread before them on a grassy table that has mossy seats around it. Adam encourages Raphael to eat. Raphael says that even angels eat food and share with mankind things like sight, touch, hearing, etc. They fall to eating; Raphael chows, just as if a hungry person would. Eve makes sure their glasses are full. Adam decides he's not going to let this chance pass by of asking Raphael a bunch of questions about "things above his world." He asks him first how the food compares to Heaven's. Raphael says that everything in the world is made of the same stuff, just in different combinations. In other words, God is the most spiritual at one end and earth the least spiritual (and most bodily) at the other. This passage is a good example of Milton's monism, which we thought we should explain here because it's a little tricky: Monism holds that there is no distinction between body and spirit, that everything is a product of "one first matter all." Everything in the universe has some different combination of bodily and spiritual substances, depending on their place in the hierarchy of the universe. Raphael tells Adam that, at some point in the future, if he follows God's rules, he and Eve's "bodies" will perhaps "at last turn all to Spirit." Adam thanks Raphael, but asks, "What's the deal with this obedience stuff? Is it even possible that my wife and I would disobey God and screw it all up?" Raphael responds to Adam, saying essentially, "Look, dude, God created all this for you; it's your job to take care of it and not break the rules." He continues, saying God created everybody free. Adam and Eve are "By nature free"; they are "not overruled by fate/ Inextricable, or strict necessity" (5.527-8). If their praise of God and service to him weren't voluntary, it wouldn't mean anything to God. Ditto the angels, says Raphael. They choose to worship God; their obedience secures their happiness. Those who don't obey lose Heaven and end up in Hell. Adam is curious and asks Raphael to tell him more. Raphael is a bit wary but agrees. He says it will be hard to communicate to Adam what happened in Heaven in words he will understand. Once upon a time, before the universe was created, there was only Heaven and Chaos. All the angels were summoned to a council, says Raphael. At the council, God proclaims His Son the new sheriff in town. Everyone will obey him or go to Hell (literally). Just about everybody rejoices (says Raphael) and goes about singing and dancing before sitting down to a banquet. Not everybody is so happy though. Satan is really angry; he was really high in God's esteem and feels slighted. He conceives "Deep maliceand disdain." At midnight Satan awakes his next in command and tells him to assemble all of his forces in the north. He's really angry about this Son stuff. Satan's lieutenant notifies all of the sub-commanders to attend a meeting; apparently, Satan was able to persuade a third of the angels in Heaven to join his side. God, who sees everything, sees all this and speaks to his Son, telling him to get ready for an attack. Meanwhile, Satan has arrived in the north and is sitting on his throne at the top of a mountain. He pretends to have called the angels there in order to discuss how best to receive their new boss, the Son of God. Satan asks how they can possible serve two masters, God and His Son. Sounds like slavery, "prostration vile," to him. Even though all the angels aren't equal, they're all free, and this whole business about God's Son is an insult to liberty, so he claims. Most of the angels liked what they hear, but not Abdiel, an angel whose devotion to God is unquestionable. He tells Satan that his arguments are blasphemous. He asks "Shalt thou give law to God, shalt thou dispute/ With him the points of liberty?" (5.822-823). God always has their best interests in mind, says Abdiel. He is "bent rather to exalt / Our happy state" rather than lessen it. Abdiel tells Satan that he better hurry up and apologize to God while there's still time. Nobody is interested in Abdiel's arguments, which amuses Satan, who then responds to Abdiel's speech, challenging the claims to God's role in creation. Satan says nobody remembers their birth; he claims that he and his angels were "self-begot" and "self-raised." He's denying God's priority, essentially, and he tells Abdiel to go tell the Son the very same. There is some applause but Abdiel is undeterred; "I see thy fall/ Determined, and thy hapless crew involved / In this perfidious fraud." Satan will soon know who created him, and he'll regret it. Abdiel turns his back on Satan and company. "His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal." Paradise Lost Book 6 Summary Abdiel heads back to where the good angels are. As morning dawns he notices the plain of Heaven "Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright,/ Chariots and flaming Arms, and fiery steeds" (6.16-17). God addresses Abdiel from behind a golden cloud, saying essentially "well done, servant of God. You've made the more difficult but the right choice." God then orders the angels Michael and Gabriel to wage war against the rebel angels and send them to Hell. The clouds darken over God's hill and a trumpet is blown; the angels begin marching, rank and file, towards the north, where they encounter Satan's legions armed and ready. The two sides close in on each other, until there is just a narrow space between them; Satan, who is sitting on a "sun-bright chariot" amidst his crew, descends. Abdiel can't endure the sight, and says to his fellow angels: "I can't believe this guy still looks like an angel. Once he betrayed God his appearance should have withered." He then addresses Satan, saying, "You're crazy. God could destroy you with anything. Some of us prefer faith and trust in God, as you can see." Satan responds, telling Abdiel that he will be the first to feel Satan's wrath ("the first assay/ Of this right hand provoked"). He says that he (Abdiel) was just trying to get on God's good side, and that many of the "good" angels are choosing servitude over freedom. Abdiel responds, telling Satan that he's wrong. Worshipping and obeying God is not slavery or servitude; servitude is worshiping an "unwise" leader like Satan. With that, Abdiel strikes Satan so swiftly that he doesn't have time to repel it. His legions are shocked and "enraged" to see their leader thus treated. Michael gives the order for the trumpet to sound, and the armies clash: "now storming fury rose [] Arms on armor clashing brayed/ Horrible discord, and the madding wheels/ of brazen chariots raged" (6.207; 209-211). If the earth had existed at this point, it would have shaken to the center; even the weakest angel could wield the cosmos. Just imagine millions that strong, says Raphael. Luckily, God limits their strength. The battle is brutal; it is sometimes fought on land, sometimes in the air. Even the worst rebel angel behaves like a good soldier though. Satan notices Michael, and approaches him with his shield. Michael, seeing an opportunity to capture Satan and end this civil ("intestine") war, addresses Satan. He tells him he (Satan ) has brought "misery" into Heaven, which had known only peace before. Heaven will not tolerate him: "Get of here and take your evil with you to Hell," he seems to say Satan responds, saying something like: "Don't talk trash, Michael, because you can't back it up. We plan to win Heaven or turn it into Hell, so long as we're free in the end. I'm not afraid of you or God so bring it! I've been looking for you." The two stop talking and start fighting; they seem like two planets coming together. As both try to kill each other with one stroke, Michael chops Satan's sword in half and then slashes his right side. A "nectarous" substance oozes from Satan's body, which quickly heals, though his armor is stained. "Then Satan first knew pain," says Raphael. His minions rush to his aid and cart him back to his chariot. Satan is furious because he realizes he's not the "matchless" fighter he thought himself to be. Meanwhile, the battle rages. Gabriel thrashes Moloch while Uriel, Raphael, and Abdiel all confound various enemies. The battle field is a mess of broken chariots and wounded steeds; the rebel angels are wounded and many are fleeing. This battle is the first time they feel "fear" and "pain." Night falls, which causes a natural break in the action. Both sides bivouac for the night; Satan calls a council. He feeds his legions a bunch of bull; he says they've proven themselves worthy of "honor, dominion, glory, and renown." He says they thought God all-powerful, but the force He sent hasn't been able to defeat them; ipso facto, He's fallible. Yeah, sure, they've been hurt, but they also can't really die. No biggie. But, Nisroc responds, the pain really, really sucks. Whoever can come up with a more effective strategy will be much appreciated. Satan says he has an idea; he'll build canons ("hollow engines long and round"), which they'll shoot at the enemy. The rebel angels set to work on building the canons; they dig up the ground, find the necessary elements, etc. In the morning, the good angels are preparing for battle when Zophiel, a scout, alerts them that Satan and his forces are marching towards them so they should get ready. Satan's army approaches in the shape of a square with an empty center ("hollow cube") to conceal the canon. He orders his soldiers to flank right and left. The canons are unveiled and lit by the rebels. Smoke, flames, "chained thunderbolts and hail/ Of Iron globes" level thousands of angels. They don't know what to do; they can't advance or retreat. Satan sees this and remarks, in derision, that the good angels were coming towards them but then they changed their minds! Belial responds with his own sarcastic remarks. Satan and company are convinced of victory and laugh at God's thunder; but the good angels aren't done yet. They're mad, and they begin tearing out the surrounding hills! "Amaze/ And terror" seize the rebel host as God's angels throw the hills at them. They're crushed, but those not buried by mountains copy God's angels and throw hills back. God can see the whole thing. He turns to His Son and says this thing's been going on for two days and that it's as brutal ("sore"), as expected. He tells Jesus that only His Son has the power to end the war; take my chariot, my sword, and my thunder and "drive them out / From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep" (6.715-716). The Son responds, saying he always does what his father asks. He'll do it, and afterwards everyone will rejoice. The chariot comes forth, pulled by "four Cherubic shapes." Their bodies are "set" with stars, their wings with eyes, and the wheels of the chariot also with eyes. Jesus, with his bow and quiver, ascends the chariot. He approaches the battle "in sapphire throned." Michael moves his soldiers around to make room for the Son. The rebel angels rally for another attack; they're only invigorated by the Son's arrival. The Son addresses his angels, telling them they can stop fighting. He'll do the rest because it's his job ("to me their doom he [God] hath assigned"). The Son assumes a very terrible countenance and flies towards the rebel army; all of Heaven shakes, except for God's throne. The rebel angels are astonished, and immediately drop their weapons. He shoots arrows while the cherubim pulling the chariot shoot fire and lightning. He gathers the rebels together like goats and pushes them towards the wall of Heaven; a hole opens up, revealing the chaos without. The angels are horrified and throw themselves out of Heaven. They fall for nine days, until Hell, "the house of woe and pain," receives them. The hole in the wall of Heaven is closed, and the angels approach the Son, rejoicing. He returns to his father. Raphael concludes, telling Adam that he's done his best to make him comprehend things beyond human comprehension. Satan is trying to undo him (Adam) as they speak, he says. "Let it profit thee to have heard/ By terrible example the reward/ Of Disobedience" (6.909-911), he concludes. Paradise Lost Book 7 Summary The narrator begins Book 7, imploring his Muse, Urania, to descend from Heaven. She's not one of the traditional nine muses of Ancient Greece; she predates those pagan figures. She helped him aspire to (i.e., sing about) Heaven, and now he wants her to help return to earth. For the rest of the poem, he will sing "Standing on earth." It's safer there, even though he (John Milton) is surrounded by dangers. He asks his muse to protect him from the fate that befell Orpheus (the "Thracian bard"), who was torn to pieces. Adam and Eve have listened attentively to Raphael, and now Adam wants to know more, especially about the creation of the world. He asks Raphael to say why and how God created the world. Raphael says he'll tell him, though it too will be tough to explain. He warns Adam not to get too curious after he leaves; knowledge is like food, he tells him, and also must be rationed, otherwise one will get sick. God, Raphael says, sees Satan fall and tells His Son that he will now create another world, lest Satan boast that he took a bunch of angels with him. According to God, there will be one man that will give birth to an entire race; but he'll live somewhere else, not in Heaven. God tells his Son that he'll give His Son the power to create another world (he's sub-contracting the job to His Son). There's much rejoicing in Heaven as the Son comes forth; the gates of Heaven are opened, and he (here called the "Word") bids the "troubled waves" of the abyss to be still as he rides into Chaos. A bunch of angels follow him to watch the creation; he takes a golden compass and measures out the bounds of the universe. He infuses "vital virtue" and "vital warmth" into the abyss while also moving the black, lifeless matter far away. He then groups ("conglobe") like substances into spheres, such as the earth. Then comes the famous "Let there be light," as God divides night and day; the angels praise his creation as the first day comes to a close. On the second day he creates the "firmament," which is something like the atmosphere that acts as a buffer between the waters on the surface of the earth and the heavens. On the third day he creates dry land; mountains emerge as various forms of water (streams, etc.) make their way to the sea. God names the huge bodies of water "seas" and orders that grass, trees, and vegetation come forth. The formerly barren earth all of a sudden blooms as the third day ends. On the fourth day he creates the sun, moon, and stars to make the divisions between night, day, and the seasons clear. On the fifth day, he creates reptiles, birds, and whales; he says to them "Be fruitful, multiply." Many other animals breed and populate the oceans, creeks, etc. On the sixth day, He creates the "beasts" of the earth, such as cattle, lions, tigers, and others. He also makes insects (such as bees), worms, and other little creatures. But there's still something missing. God says to His Son, "Let us make now Man in our image," which he does. He also creates a female, Eve, to be his companion and says to both: "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth." He places them in Eden, gives them dominion over everything, and says they can do anything except eat from the Tree of Knowledge. The Son goes back to Heaven amidst rejoicing; he returns to sit as His Father's side and rest from his six-day labor. The seventh day is now hallowed, though not in silence: music, harps, and rejoicing are heard throughout Heaven. Raphael finishes, and asks Adam if there's anything else (within reason) that he would like to know. Paradise Lost Book 8 Summary Raphael finishes speaking, and Adam thanks him. But there's still some things he's curious about. Why do all huge stars and planets, etc. move all over the place rather than the earth? Eve gets up and walks out in the garden, but not because she can't handle the discussion that's about to follow. She'd rather hear it from Adam, not Raphael, because Adam will give her little kisses while he's telling her things. Raphael responds, saying it doesn't really matter whether the earth or the heavens are moving. Some things God has concealed. The point though, he tells Adam, is that he (Adam) doesn't really know what's going on. The earth isn't necessarily less than other heavenly bodies just because it's smaller. Raphael then goes on to describe a number of complicated astronomical theories, ultimately telling Adam, "Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid,/ Leave them to God above, him serve and fear" (8.167-168). Adam is satisfied, and says he understands: there's no point worrying about all kinds of crazy stuff in the universe and God's purposes in making it that. Adam says he's going to do some narrating and tell Raphael his earliest memories. Raphael says he'd be delighted to hear because God sent him to watch the gates of Hell when Adam first awoke. Adam says he woke up and immediately looked up to Heaven, and then around him. He walked around and discovered that he could speak and name things. He also says, "But who I was, or where, or from what cause,/ Knew not" (8.270-271). He deduced that he was created by somebody but he doesn't know who. He then sat down, fell asleep and had a dream. In the dream, a divine apparition called to him and led him to the Garden of Eden. Adam awoke, and found that he had actually been transplanted there! The same divine being came forth and tells Adam he's the guy Adam's been looking for, the creator of everything. "This is all yours," he essentially says, "except for the Tree of Knowledge. You eat that, you become mortal and have to leave the garden." After this guy (it's God) finishes, all the animals come before Adam in pairs. He names them, but doesn't see what he wants among them. He asks the heavenly vision how he's supposed to be happy if he's all alone. He has no companion. God responds by asking him, essentially, "What do you mean alone? Look at all these animals." Adam responds by saying they're too different from him; he can't converse with lions! God says this is all very interesting but why doesn't He, God, need anybody? Adam "Thou in thy self art perfect," which means he doesn't need anybody. Adam does, though. God responds, saying that he was just testing Adam to see how he would handle being alone. He then tells him to watch what he (God) has in store for him next. God then puts Adam to sleep, but Adam's "fancy" (whatever that is) can still see what's happening, "as in a trance." He watches God create Eve, the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Then he wakes up and goes looking for her; he sees her, coming towards him led by God's voice. He thanks God. He then led Eve to the marriage bower while all the birds of Paradise were singing. He loves Eve, but realizes that she's "in the prime end /Of naturethe inferior" (8.540-541). Raphael responds, telling Adam to be careful and not to be too over-awed with Eve's beauty. She's worthy of Adam's love, but not his "subjection." Adam says he understands and tells Raphael not to worry. Then he asks him whether or not the angels make love. Hehehe. Raphael smiles, blushes, and says angels are happy, and there's no happiness without love. He then tells Adam it's time for him to go. He tells Adam to keep obeying God and to resist temptation; he and the other angels have high hopes for him. They say their goodbyes, and Raphael returns to Heaven. Paradise Lost Book 9 Summary Book 9 opens with Milton's final invocation; he says he must now change his "notes" (i.e., his poem) to "tragic." Milton says that his theme is more heroic than all the martial epics of Homer, Virgil, and Spenser that have preceded him. The themes of those poems are "Not that which justly gives heroic name/ To person or to poem" (9.40-41). The sun sets and night falls as Satan returns "fearless" and "bent on man's destruction" to the garden. He's been gone for about a week. There's a river (the Tigris) that flows underground and remerges as a fountain in Paradise; Satan uses this river to get back into the garden. He decides to become a serpent to execute his designs against Adam and Eve. Before that, though, he bursts out in complaint, saying the earth is really beautiful; "With what delight could I have walked thee round," he exclaims. It turns out, though, that Satan really can't enjoy it; the whole thing just makes him mad. He's not hoping to become happy because of what he's doing; he just wants to make others as miserable as he is. He searches throughout the night for the serpent. He finds him (the serpent), enters through his mouth, and waits until dawn. As the sun rises, Adam and Eve come forth. Eve suggests to Adam that they divide their labor; often, when working together, they don't get anything done. Adam responds by saying labor isn't such a big deal that they can't rest and take it easy. But, if Eve wants to get away for a while, that's OK with him because "Solitude sometimes is best society." Adam is uneasy though; he reminds Eve that they've been warned about Satan and that they're better off together. Eve isn't crazy about Adam's comment, so she says in return that she's upset that Adam has his doubts about her. Adam responds by saying that he doesn't doubt her ability to resist temptation; he just thinks it would be dishonorable for her to suffer temptation alone. Eve responds, saying that temptation in itself isn't a bad thing; it will only prove how strong she and Adam are, and how evil Satan is. Adam replies with some remarks about the importance of trial and concludes by telling Eve that he doesn't want to make her work with him against her will. Eve says she'll back by noon or so and that such a proud foe as Satan is wouldn't dare attempt to mess with the "weaker" sex because that would make his punishment all the more shameful. Satan is waiting in the bushes for Eve; he had been hoping to find her alone and lo and behold his wish has come true! Satan can't believe how gorgeous Eve is; seeing her is like being pent up in a disgusting city and then going out to the country for some fresh air. For a moment, Satan forgets his hate. Then he snaps out of it and tells himself not to forget about the hate and revenge that brought him here. He also makes some remark about how much easier this is going to be with just Eve. He moves towards Eve, except he moves in a sideways motion, almost as if he didn't want to interrupt her. Oh, and he's walking upright, not crawling on his belly. He approaches here, and makes some noise in an effort to get her attention; she doesn't notice because she's used to it, so he makes some bolder gestures. He even licks the ground she walks on! By the way, the first letter of each line from 510-514 spells "Satan." That's called an acrostic. Satan addresses Eve, telling her not to wonder. He tells her she's so beautiful that everybody should be able to gaze on her, not just Adam. Eve is surprised ("not unamazed"); she says she didn't think animals could talk and wants to know how it is that he can speak. Satan responds, again with flattery, by saying he used to be as dumb as the other animals. But then he saw a tree whose fruit looked soooooo good; he couldn't resist so he slithered up the trunk and took some. It was marvelous, he says, because then he could talk and think and reason. Eve is amazed. She asks the Satan (disguised as a serpent) which tree it was and to lead her to it, which he gladly does. He's clearly deceiving her; he's kind of like a mirage or fire at night that distracts wandering travelers and leads them astray. He leads Eve to the "Tree/ Of prohibition." Eve tells Satan that she's not allowed to eat from it and makes a cute pun as well: it is "Fruitlessthough fruit be here to excess," she says. Hehe. Satan can't believe it and realizes he will have to more persuasive. He starts moving around like some ancient orator in Greece or Rome. He tells Eve that the fruit won't kill her; just look at him! He ate from it, and he's fine! Besides, why shouldn't she be able to eat the same stuff as the beasts (i.e., the serpent)? What is more, he says, God will admire her boldness in eating what will make her smarter, despite God's threats of death! God wouldn't hurt Eve, he continues, because that wouldn't be just. The only reason he's forbidden her to eat is because he wants to "keep ye low and ignorant." If she eats the fruit, she'll become like the gods and possess a much clearer vision of things, just like the serpent. The only death that will result is that she will put off her human nature and assume a godlike one, he claims. So eat the fruit, he says to her. Eve is tricked by Satan; his words have "too easy entrance won" into her heart. It's near lunchtime, and she's hungry; that fruit looks so good, and she can't stop staring at it. Eve addresses the fruit, saying it is quite powerful (it gave the serpent the ability to speak) and the fact that it is forbidden makes it even more desirable. Why should mankind be denied knowledge, she asks? It has done wonders for the serpent so why shouldn't she be allowed to have it too? Was death made only for mankind? She eats the fruit; or rather, she stuffs her face with it until she's full. Nature shudders as Eve eats death. She addresses the fruit then as the most "precious" of all trees. She vows to sing to it everyday, and eat from it everyday until she grows wise. But what about Adam? Should she tell him? If he doesn't eat, and she dies because she ate it, Adam will get a new Eve. She decides to tell him. Meanwhile, Adam has been weaving a little garland for Eve's hair. Anxious, he goes looking for her and eventually bumps into her near the Tree of Knowledge. Eve runs up to him with a bunch of fruit and tells Adam that the tree isn't like what they've been told. It has not caused death but has rather opened her eyes. She wants Adam to eat some of the fruit too. Adam is shocked; his blood turns icy cold. He drops the pretty garland he has made for her and then speaks to himself. He says, "How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost" (9.900). He can't believe it; he's doomed too, he says, because he can't stand to be without Eve, or to watch her suffer. He then tells Eve that she's done a bold thing; however, it's clear that the fruit will cause them to become like gods. God won't kill his first-made creatures, says Adam; besides, he would have to un-create the world too, which was made for and is dependent on Adam and Eve. Adam loves Eve too much, and he will go down with her. Eve says everything she's thought about Adam has been confirmed. She encourages him to eat with similar language that Satan used with her: "Adam, freely taste." With that, Eve offers Adam a healthy portion of the fruit; he eats it, and the earth groans again. Thunder is heard, and some rain drops fall. They both feel like gods, and experience lust for the first time ("in lust they burn"). Adam gives Eve a look, she returns it, and then Adam says "now let us play." They have sex for a while in some thicket, fall asleep, and then wake up "as from unrest." The fruit is bad, almost a drug, and they're now waking up with a hangover. They now realize they are naked, and Adam tells Eve that the serpent lied and that they have lost their innocence. He suggests that they find something to cover up their private parts; they choose some fig leaves. They then sit down and cry while various passions like anger and hate tear up their insides. Adam tells Eve that if she had only stayed home that morning this wouldn't have happened; Eve responds by saying it could just as easily have happened because the serpent was so persuasive. They spend the rest of the day accusing/blaming each other. Paradise Lost Book 10 Summary God is aware of what has happened; what can escape his eye? Adam and Eve deserved to fall, says the narrator, because they had the power to resist temptation but didn't. A sadness pervades Heaven as the angelic squadrons return from their guard (they're no longer necessary) bearing the bad news. God speaks, saying not to be "dismayed" because there was nothing anybody could do. He says he'll send His Son down to execute justice on Adam and Eve. The Son responds, saying he will temper justice with mercy; nobody will behold the judgment except Adam and Eve. The serpent, of course, is innocent. The judge goes down to the garden; it is near evening, and Adam and Eve go hide themselves when they realize God's voice (i.e., the Son) is in there. The Son asks Adam where he is. Adam and Eve appear, clearly upset and without love in their eyes. Adam tells the Son that he hid himself because he was afraid and was naked. The Son is perturbed, and asks him how he knows he's naked? Did he eat from the tree? Adam answers indirectly by talking about his wife and how things are going badly; eventually, he admits that Eve gave him the fruit and he ate it. The Son rebukes Adam, telling him that he shouldn't have given in to Eve's demands; Adam was given the power to rule, not Eve. He then addresses Eve, who admits to her mistake. The Son then curses the serpent, saying he shall walk on his belly from here on out (note that this contradicts the Father's earlier assertion that the serpent would not be punished, in line 10.84). He then punishes Adam and Eve. He tells Eve that childbirth will be painful and that she must submit to her husband. For Adam, the ground will not be as fertile as it once was. He then makes them clothes (almost as if he were a father clothing his children) before returning to His Father's side in Heaven. Meanwhile, our old friends Sin and Death are waiting by the gates of Hell; Sin tells Death that she thinks Satan has succeeded (otherwise he would have returned by now). She feels a new strength within her, and suggests that they build a bridge from Hell to earth, just in case Satan can't find his way back. Death responds by saying he will help her; he smells fresh prey on earth, almost as if he were some type of vulture gathering around a battle field, waiting for everyone to die so he can feed. The two begin separating the elements of Chaos and building a bridge that connects Hell to the walls of earth, which is now "fenceless." They travel along the bridge and encounter Satan, who is coming towards them in the likeness of an angel; they recognize their father. After he slunk away, Satan changed his shape and watched the sequel of what he had initiated. Sin tells Satan that they have a connection ("secret harmony"); she could feel that he had succeeded in his task. He has succeeded in liberating Sin and Death from Hell, she says. Hell couldn't contain the three of them anyway. Satan is now the lord of earth, she says. Satan responds, saying that Sin and Death (both his son and grandchild) have proven themselves worthy of being the race of Satan. He tells them to go ahead and head over to Paradise and start wreaking havoc; he's going to go back to Hell and inform his legions of the good news. Satan enters the gates of Hell; his legions are hanging out around Pandemonium. Others are debating in council on the inside. He sneaks in, disguised as a lesser angel; he makes himself invisible, assumes his throne, and then suddenly appears. His legions shout in approval. He tells them he's come to lead them forth from Hell to possess the new world he has conquered. He tells the story of how he tricked Adam and Eve; he then expects to hear some applause but instead hears "A dismal universal hiss." He feels his body changing and notices that he is changing into a serpent! All the other fallen angels around him turn to serpents too; it's punishment for their crimes. Satan and his legions exit Pandemonium; the other fallen angels behold their comrades as serpents, and then themselves turn to serpents. Nearby, a grove springs up, laden with fruit that resembles the Forbidden Fruit. All the snakes are compelled to eat it because they've suddenly become so thirsty. When they eat it, though, it turns to ashes in their mouth! Eventually, they're allowed to resume their original shapes, though some they have to undergo this change every year. Meanwhile, Sin and Death (the "hellish pair") arrive in Paradise. They each go their separate ways to wreak havoc. God sees this, and says it's Adam's fault that these fiends are now in Paradise. He says eventually the Son will expel them for good. But that comes later. The angels in Heaven sing their praises as God institutes the seasons and fixes the orbits of the five planets (Milton only knew of five when he wrote). Big climactic changes are happening. The animals in paradise no longer get along; they kill each other for food and flee man's presence. Adam sees this, feels horrible, and bursts out with a complaint. He says it would be great if all this were to end right now because his children will all be cursed. He imagines future generations cursing him and then complains that he never asked to be created, and therefore God should return him to dust. Then he realizes, he accepted God's terms from the get-go, and that it is illogical to make arguments about not wishing to be born. He says he eagerly awaits that day, but then he speculates on what death is like for some time. He wonders if he'll still suffer after he's dead. Eventually, Adam admits that God was justified in punishing him. As he complains, Eve comes over and tries to comfort him, but he tells her to take a hike, calling her a serpent. He says "But for thee/ I had persisted happy" (10.873-874) and continues to blame her, at least in part, for her transgressions. He says, essentially, it was a dumb idea to create woman. Eve is really upset; she falls at his feet, crying, and asks Adam not to abandon her. She takes full responsibility, and wants there to be peace between them. Adam is moved to "commiseration" and tells her to get up. They've blamed each other enough. Eve responds, saying the best way to cheat death is just not to have children, and to abstain from "love's due rites." Better yet, why don't they just seek death now, she asks. Adam responds by saying God has probably figured this one out. Besides, how will they "bruise" Satan if they're dead or if they don't have any children? He says God didn't kill them right away but rather gave them clothes and only said that Eve will have labor pains and Adam will have to labor for his food. It could have been worse, he says; and besides, there is reason to hope that God will help them deal with what the future holds. "We need not fear/ To pass commodiously this life" (10.1082-1083). He says they should go pray to God and water the ground with their tears, which they do. Paradise Lost Book 11 Summary Book 11 opens with Adam and Eve sending up their prayers to Heaven. The Son receives them and presents them to the Father. He intercedes on their behalf, and asks God to proclaim peace for mankind, to forgive him, etc. God accedes to the Son's requests, but says Adam and Eve still have to leave Paradise. Death will be their punishment, but it will lead to a second birth, so it's not all bad. God tells Michael to go down to Adam and Eve and banish them, but to be nice about it. He also tells him to tell Adam about what will happen in the future. Adam and Eve finish their prayers and feel more hopeful. Adam even tells Eve that he thinks the "bitterness of death/ Is past" (11.157-158). Eve responds by saying that she deserves to be reproached, but that her judge was "infinite in pardon." She tells Adam that it's time to go to work, and that she will never stray from his side again. As they go to work, they notice that things have changed; an eagle is chasing a peacock and a lion is looking for prey. Adam interprets these as signs that something else is still in store. He doesn't quite realize what's going to happen yet. Meanwhile, Michael and a few other angels arrive; Michael approaches Adam, who realizes that this angel is a bit sterner than Raphael. Michael says, in effect, that Adam and Eve must leave Paradise. Adam is shocked (as is Eve). He stands "Heart-strook with chilling gripe of sorrow." Eve is really sad; she can't bear the thought of leaving Paradise. Michael, however, tells her not to worry. She lost Paradise fair in square, but at least Adam is going with her. Adam responds to Michael, saying that the angel has gently delivered his message. Adam is worried, though; the garden is a special place, full of the memories of many encounters with God. "In yonder nether World where shall I seek/ His bright appearances, or foot step-trace?" (11.328-329) he asks. Michael responds by saying that God fills the entire earth, not just Paradise. Adam will have access to many signs of God's presence. He then tells Adam that he will show him the future; the two ascend the tallest mountain in Paradise while Eve sleeps below (Michael's put her to sleep). He puts some things in Adam's eyes; Adam falls down, and then Michael helps him up and tells him to open his eyes. Adam sees a field and two guys; both bring sacrifices, but God only accepts one. The guy whose sacrifice is rejected kills the other one (this is the story of Cain and Abel, from Genesis). Adam is horrified and asks if this is death? Michael responds and says it is one form of death, but there are others. The scene changes again and Adam sees a "Lazar house," a sort of hospital that has every type of sick person known to man. All these people are slowly dying; Death refuses to take them, so they're still suffering. Adam can't help but weep; if that's death, he suggests, life isn't worth it. Isn't there some other way? Michael shows Adam another scene; this time, there are a whole bunch of guys around a bunch of tents. Eventually, a lot of women come out and they all pair off, sing, dance, and get married. Adam is delighted, but Michael checks his response by telling him that these are actually evil men, the descendants of the guy (Cain) who killed his brother. They will give up a lot for lust and wickedness. Adam is upset, but Michael shows him another vision; this time, he sees a city and a lot of fighting. It's basically, a chaotic battle scene, with lots of blood. There is one guy who stands up and speaks on behalf of justice; a cloud descends and whisks him away. Adam cries again; he can't believe all the slaughter. Michael tells him this is the result of the marriages he saw earlier on the plain. Michael continues, saying that there was one guy who refused to participate in all the fighting; as a reward, he was taken away to Heaven, to enjoy everlasting life. Michael then shows Adam what happened after all the battles; the scene changes, and though the fighting is no more, there is all kinds of lust, adultery, etc. A guy wanders through the city, trying to persuade people to get back on the right path; they don't listen, so he moves his tents away from the city. Eventually, he builds an ark and fills it with a bunch of animals and provisions; he, his three sons, and their wives all get in before a giant flood destroys everything. Adam again cries; he falls down, and Michael has to help him up. Adam wishes he didn't have to learn the future; he feels there is no hope. Is this the end of the human race, he asks? Michael summarizes the events Adam has just witnessed and then shows him the sequel: the flood eventually recedes, the mountains reappear, Noah and his family emerge. They see a rainbow in the sky. Adam rejoices and says to Michael: "Far less I now lament for one whole World/ Of wicked Sons destroyed" (11.874-5). Michael tells Adam that, after this flood, God will never destroy the race of mankind again, until the end of time when fire will consume it. Paradise Lost Book 12 Summary Michael halts his narration to give Adam a breather. He resumes, saying that after the Flood there will be peace for a while, but eventually a guy named Nimrod will get bored and build an empire. He will hunt "With war and hostile snare such as refuse/ Subjection to his empire tyrannous." Then, he and his followers will build a huge tower to rival Heaven. God will observe this and get mad; as punishment, he makes everybody associated with the tower speak different languages so they can no longer understand each other. Adam sees all this and is displeased; he says this Nimrod guy is nuts. God did not give man power over other men. Michael approves of Adam's disapproval and tells him that this is yet another result of the Fall. Man's sins ensure that he will occasionally be subjected to tyrants. Michael continues, saying that eventually God will get so sick of the way people are (corrupt, tyrannous, etc.) that he will select one group of people to be his. This new nation will spring from a man that God named Abraham (not named for a while yet); God will call him and promise him the land of Canaan. Abraham will leave everything he knows and trust in God, who eventually leads him to the Promised Land. He will have many descendants. Eventually, his descendants will make their way to Egypt; in a later generation, the pharaoh will get worried about their growing numbers and enslave them. Eventually, two brothers Moses and Aaron will lead them out of Egypt and back to the Promised Land. The pharaoh and his people will suffer immensely as a result; God will send ten plagues in order to make him release His people (the plagues include frogs, lice, darkness, the death of livestock, rivers turning to blood, and the death of very first-born child in Egypt). The pharaoh will pursue his former slaves. While the freed slaves are permitted to cross the Red Sea (Moses' staff has the power to part the sea), the pharaoh will try to cross and drown. Moses will act as a mediator between God and the people since God is too powerful for human apprehension. God will give them a bunch of laws (including the Ten Commandments, which are carried around in a little shrine), government, etc. Eventually, they will enter the Promised Land, but not for a while. Adam interrupts at this point, and tells Michael that now he truly sees; but, he asks Michael, why are there so many laws? Is there really that much sin in the world? After being settled in the Promised Land (Canaan) for some time, there will be wars; God will protect them through judges and then through kings (both of which are books of the Bible). The second king a guy named David is in the line of descent that stretches from Abraham (the founder of God's race), and ends with Jesus. Jesus will be the last king ever, for "of his reign shall be no end." But that comes later; in the meantime, David's second son Solomon will build a massive temple to house the Ark (a wooden thing that contains the Ten Commandments). Eventually Solomon's followers will screw it up and the Israelites (that's what God's race is called in the Bible) will be captured and imprisoned by the Babylonians for 70 years! After the Babylonian Captivity, things will be OK for a while, but eventually the Israelites will fight amongst themselves and permit a stranger (a Roman) to take over their kingdom. Adam is so happy he's crying; he tells Michael that he now understands. He asks when the big battle between Satan and Jesus will take place. Michael tells him it's not going to be a traditional battle. He tells Adam that the Son will become a man called Jesus and will suffer a cruel death for man's sins. He will rise from the dead after three days. It is "this act" which "shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength." Jesus will hang out for a while with his disciples, and then go back to Heaven. He'll come back at some later time in the future and judge the living and the dead. Adam rejoices again, happy that so much good will eventually come from his mistakes. He asks Michael what will happen to the disciples. Michael says they will be persecuted, but that Jesus will give them courage in the form of the "Spirit" of God, which will comfort them. Michael continues, saying the future history of God's people will be complicated; bad people will pretend to be good people, and there will be more persecutions, until Jesus returns. Adam says he now understands everything. "Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best," he says. Michael makes a few more remarks and then tells Adam that it's time to descend from the mountain. Adam must leave the garden soon. He tells him to go wake Eve; he (Michael) has given her pleasant dreams. Adam finds Eve already awake; she says she knows some good will come from their mistakeseventually. She says to Adam, in one of the most touching moments of the poem: "thou to me/ Art all things under Heav'n" (12.617-618). The angels lead Adam and Eve out of the garden and down into the plain below. They look back at Paradise, "so late their happy seat," and see a flaming sword covering the eastern side. They shed some tears, but wipe them. They take each other's hands, and make their way through Eden (the region that contains the garden). Adam Character Analysis Adam is an incredibly important man, but not for what he actually does in the poem. He's important because of what he's destined to do. You see, he's God's first-born human the "First man, of men innumerable ordained" (8.297) and so he's the root from which a magnificent family tree (if we do say so ourselves) known as the human race will develop. In Milton's words: "Out of one man a race/ Of men innumerable" (7.155-156). Now we know Adam isn't the most exciting character. He's kind of dull and he puts too much stock in Eve's beauty. Yeah, she's really, really, REALLY beautiful and hot, but his love for her is partly the cause of his ruin. Near the end of Book 8, he and Raphael are discussing this very issue, and Adam says all kinds of stuff about how astonishingly gorgeous Eve is. Adam gets so carried away that Raphael tells him to chill out and not let her beauty cause him to make bad decisions. It's almost like Raphael has to tell him not to think with his you-know-what. Now, this becomes really important later because Adam ends up doing what his wife encourages him to do (dividing their labor; eating the Forbidden fruit) because he can't refuse her beauty. The fact of the matter is, we all see aspects of ourselves in Adam. You know how hard it can be to resist the pleadings of your super-hot boyfriend/girlfriend? Surely we can be just a little sympathetic. And Milton is somewhat unclear as well; after the Fall, he says that Adam was not "deceived," but rather "fondly overcome with female charm" (9.998-999). Is Milton saying that Adam wasn't tricked because he's too smart for that? Or is he saying that Adam is so weak that he fell prey to his wife's "charm[s]"? Either way, Adam (and Eve) pays the price; he has to leave Paradise, and on top of that he has to learn about the horrible events (narrated in Books 11-12) that will happen as a result of his and Eve's behavior. In some respects, then, he resembles other literary characters entrusted with the burden of painful knowledge (Jonas from The Giver comes to mind; head over to our guide for more!). Notice how Adam doesn't tell Eve about all this stuff; we don't know if he ever does. In some respects he's like a parent or older brother that knows lots and lots of bad things that he doesn't necessarily want to share with his younger, more innocent siblings. Just think of him as someone who has to watch horrible war footage that the public isn't allowed to see. Would you want him to tell you about it? But not all knowledge in this poem is bad, however, and Adam is also the figure through whom Milton reveals his own theories about what God was really up to with that whole Tree of Knowledge business. People have often complained that, because the tree was forbidden, knowledge was forbidden. The Bible doesn't really say anything about this, so Milton fills in the blanks with his own theory. In Paradise Lost he argues that Adam and Eve will eventually acquire the knowledge they don't yet possess. This is the whole point of Raphael and Adam's conversation in Books 5-8. In Book 5 Raphael tells him flat out that eventually, he will know everything he wants to know and then some. The real sin that Adam ends up committing, then, is not the knowledge he gains, but rather the proleptic (i.e., before the proper time) knowledge that he gains. In other words, he tries to walk before he's learned to crawl. Or, better, he takes his daddy's truck out before he's even gotten his learner's permit. Why do you think Adam's premature education is such a bad thing? What role does time play here? Eve Character Analysis Along with Satan, Eve is the most important character in Paradise Lost; it is her idea to separate from Adam (in Book 9), and she is the one who first eats the Forbidden Fruit and then convinces Adam to eat it. In many respects, then, Eve's not likeable from the get-go. And in other respects, she's totally likeable for her sense of independence and curiosity. After the Fall, Adam and Eve engage in a petty blame game, where it becomes clear that, yes, Eve ate first, but Adam also ate the fruit, for his own reasons (chiefly because he didn't want Eve to go down alone). OK, so Eve seems to be a bit of a rebel. Granted, the first thing she does upon coming to life is stare at herself in a lake (4.460) like Narcissus a mythological figure who fell in love with his own reflection and died as a result until God leads her away. In Book 9, she is called "our credulous mother" (9.644), an ominous name because we learn that Satan's words "too easy entrance found" (9.734) their way into her heart. Then there's all the stuff about how Adam is somehow more perfect because he was created first (Eve was made out of his rib) and resembles God more than she does (see 10.150-151 for one example of this idea). And of course, who can forget our very first encounter with Eve in Book 4, where Milton writes that "both/ Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed" (4.295-296). Huh? But wait, the word "seemed" suggests that this is someone's point of view rather than cold hard fact (things "seem" to somebody). In this case that observer isSatan! Yes that's right, our first glimpse of the primal couple (and of a potential inequality in the sexes) is through Satan's eyes. In that sense, the passages surrounding line 295 in Book 4 make it seem as though only Satan, or someone like him, would think that men and women aren't equals. Now, we don't mean to suggest that Milton is some kind of early feminist (he definitely is not that). We only mean that Eve is a tougher nut to crack. So, for example, the narcissism scene is, in reality, pretty innocent. Imagine if you didn't exist and then all of a sudden you did. What would you think of your own face? Or imagine if you grew up without any means of looking at yourself or seeing your reflection, and then, one day, you found a mirror. You would be fascinated because you wouldn't recognize it as your own face! You've never even seen it! Ditto Book 9; it's hard to blame Eve and act as if Adam wouldn't have done the same thing if he were in the same situation. We're not sure if Adam would have been able to resist Satan he can't even resist his wife, let alone the most rhetorically gifted speaker in English literature. The thing to keep in mind then is that Eve isn't always as bad or stupid as she seems or as she is portrayed. Sometimes people like to complain that Eve is left out or excluded from the boys' club; for example, when Michael comes down to give Adam his little history lesson in Books 11 and 12, Eve is put to sleep. When Raphael and Adam have their little conversation, Eve doesn't really participate; eventually she gets up and leaves. But the reason she gets up and leaves (at the beginning of Book 8) is not because she can't handle the dense, theoretical conversation about the origin and structure of the universe (something that is too obscure or highfalutin for most contemporary readers). She gets up because she would rather hear her sweetie narrate it. Eve is just as capable as Adam of having serious, scientific conversations; she just wants her husband to interpose little kisses and caresses while they talk. Wouldn't you? It's a kind of touching scene. The fact of the matter is that Eve is innocent and well-meaning, except for that little slip up with the fruit. We probably aren't supposed to read the narcissism scene, or the evil dream that Satan whispers in her ear (recounted near the beginning of Book 5), or even her suggestion that she and Adam divide their labor so they can actually be productive (beginning of Book 9), as somehow foreshadowing the huge mistake she eventually makes. Milton very much wants to create the impression that the Fall hasn't happened yet and that things might go the other way. God says on numerous occasions that Adam and Eve weren't fated to do anything, and that he gave them free will. So, just because Eve's hair is described as "wanton" (4.306), for example, a word with more negative connotations than positive ones, doesn't mean she is somehow "bad" from the get-go. We always have to remember that we are seeing Eve through someone else's eyes. Satan Character Analysis Milton's Satan is one of the most dynamic and complicated characters in all of literature. While he possesses an unhealthy thirst for vengeance and havoc like the little red dude with a pitchfork you're used to seeing, Satan is also the most likeable character in the poem. OK, maybe likeable is going a bit too far, but nearly every reader of the poem has found it difficult to avoid sympathizing with him to some degree, if not completely. For many years readers of the poem have been divided over the question of whose side Milton was on: Satan's or God's. Just bear with us here. Satan is flat-out, hands down, without a doubt, the best speaker in the poem. He's like the greatest Shakespearean actor you've ever seen. When he wakes up in Hell, chained to a burning lake, how can we not feel a bit sorry for him? All he really tried to do was overthrow God, which is impossible anyway because we're talking about God here. Yeah we get that he's God, but when we actually meet God in Book 3, he doesn't even compare to Satan. He comes off like some boring unnamed character, whereas Satan is like an evil Hamlet, or Iago, or any other major character that isn't a talking corpse (check out his famous speech on Mt. Niphates in 4.32 to get a sense of Satan's Shakespearean flavor). The great English poet Percy Shelley, who idolized Milton, summarized the point well: Nothing can exceed the energy and magnificence of the character of Satan. It is a mistake to suppose that he could ever have been intended for the popular personification of evil. Sadly, however, Satan really is evil. But his is a very seductive kind of evil, which makes him even more dangerous (just think Tom Riddle from the Harry Potter series). Let's consider an example. We just said that God seems like a boring, authoritative figure; well, that's how he comes across. But that's also what Satan would love for us to believe about God. In Books 2 and 5 especially, Satan does a great job of portraying God as some type of fascist despot or tyrant who loves arbitrary power. Sometimes, Satan even acts like he's some kind of innocent victim. OK, God's power is arbitrary, that much is true; but he's also the boss. It's his universe; he created it. All he wants from Satan, and everybody else, is a thank you in the morning for being allowed to live in Heaven.FOREVER! Is that really so much to ask? Does that sound like despotism? Not really. But listening to Satan's impassioned speeches and their infectious rhetoric might make you think so. It turns out, conveniently and ingeniously, that Satan's speeches are uncannily like the animal whose shape he dons to tempt Eve: the serpent. They are tricky, clever, wily, and anything but straightforward. For example, whereas Satan will champion some type of heroic perseverance or a refusal to repent and submit to God's slavery, he's really just ticked off that he lost the war in Heaven and that he has to live in Hell. He knows that his auditors (which include us) love that kind of rhetoric, which has proven successful and seductive for centuries. Sometimes, Satan tries a different angle; at one point he even sheds a tear, a moment that bears some similarities with the sadness he feels when he sees Adam and Eve in Paradise and realizes he's screwed (he actually says "Oh Hell" at that moment). Poor Satan, right? Wrong. He really just wants to make Adam and Eve suffer to spite God; he wants to ruin it for two human creatures who, from one perspect