paradise lost

Introduction of paradise lost :-

Milton first published his seminal epic poem, Paradise Lost, in 1667. A “Revised and Augmented” version, which is the one read more widely today, was published in 1674, with this following introduction. In it, Milton explains why he has chosen to compose his long poem in English heroic verse without the use of rhyme, following the models of Homer and Virgil. Milton argues that rhyme is particularly unnecessary in longer poems, and that its unquestioned use by his peers, “carried away by Custom, but much to their own vexation, hindrance, and constraint to express many things otherwise, and for the most part worst than they would have exprest them.” Milton sees an inflexible application of rhyme and meter as in danger of becoming rote and mathematical, and he defends the liberty he found in releasing his poem from rhyme’s limitations.

1. Write a critique on the character of Eve. 

       

    Eve is the first woman created by God. Milton has presented character of Eve in a some different way than Bible. Eve is physically more attractive than Adam. Hence, Satan overcome by her beauty but she is not as strong physically or intellectually as Adam and she seduced by Satan and eats the fruit of the tree of knowledge. 

First she made some argue with Satan 

         " But if this tree we may not taste not touch, God so commanded, and left that commanded sole daughter of his voice: the rest, we live law to ourselves: our reason is our law "

First she wants to become more knowledgeble than Adam so she decides that not to tell about this fruit to Adam but, after she become afraid that if God will angry about her this act and curse her for her disobedience than Adam will remain and she will curse. So after she decides to tell when Adam makes some argument about this forbidden fruit at that time she says:

   

      " This tree is not, as we are told, a tree if danger tasted, not to evil unknown opening the way, but if devine effect to open eyes, and make them God who taste; and hath been tasted such".

She deserves all praise for her beauty and she is beloved of Adam. Milton has portrayed weakness of women through the character of Eve. Milton has portrayed Eve weaker than Adam. She easily tempted by Satan. She is superior than Adam only in her beauty. Eve is certainly not a feminist heroine. Milton shows role of women in society during his time. 

2) whose arguments did you find more convincing ? 

Answer )  I can find Eve's arguments are more convincing . In the Paradise Lost , Eve is character in whom the inevitability of rebellion seems most obvious . 

      . . . her rash hand in evil hour

      Forth reaching to the fruit, 

      She pluck'd,  she eat;

       Earth felt the wound, and

       Nature from her seat

        Sighing through all her works 

        Gave signs of woe, 

        That all was lost. 

In these lines Eve determines to Change the world and disobey to the god by eating the fruit of knowledge . In fact she eats the 'fruit of death' . Her desire to be independence and knowledgeable leads her to rebel against the god. Eve had the chance to choose to obey their God rather than the anxiety of gaining the knowledge . Eve also makes the Adam to eat fruit  by saying that it is the fruit which may open his eyes and makes him equal to god. Eve thinks that if she would die and after that if Adam is replaced by another Eve then and then. That's why out of her jealousy after her consumption of forbidden knowledge she decides it would be better for her and Adam to die together . Eve also encourages him to eat the fruit by saying that  "Adam, freely taste". She offers him a healthy protein fruit and he eats it. By disobeying God in thus way Eve has gained neither equality nor freedom . In fact she has lost paradise and brought sin and death into the world .

3)How do you look at divine perspective in the Genesis of the holy Bible and human perspective in John Milton’s paradise lost book IX?

In holy book Bible we find God at the centre of world. Bible represented God centric world. God was at the centre whereas all human beings as like puppet. Everything done by God. Bible represents God’s character as a lively character and a central character. We find that due to God’s creation of forbidden tree “ fall of man”  happens. God curse her also her children for her disobedience work.

Fruit was forbidden by God, but Eve
tempted by satan and ate fruit.
In Genesis:
  God “ created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them”.

Now place of divine perspective is taken by Human perspective. In paradise lost Milton’s style of presenting is unique. We find in Milton’s paradise lost human  as the central character of world. He has not presented God as a central character. Milton is as a human being and as a poet wrote human perspective.

In Milton’s paradise lost we find Eve is responsible or Due to Eve’s action fall of man happens. Eve’s disobedience at centre. Milton gives voice to character of Eve, Adam and satan while God remains as aloof or just flat character. Eve wanted to become knowledgeable and so she tries to eat fruit from forbidden tree of knowledge.

 Her intension was to become more knowledgeable and come to know about Good and evil as like God.

So we find in paradise lost Milton has written in a different way or angel than Bible. In Bible we find divine perspective is prominent while in paradise lost ' Human perspective'  is principle than divine.