Milton s Paradise Lost, God, Satan Or Adam - 1484 Words

Who is the hero in Milton’s, Paradise Lost, God, Satan or Adam? This question has been pondered by all who read this epic poem of Milton’s since it was first published in 1667. To answer this question objectively, one must first define the word, hero. Webster’s dictionary defines hero as: â€Å"A person or character who, in the face of danger or adversity or from a position of weakness, displays courage, bravery or self-sacrifice for some greater good.† So, by using this definition as a guideline, I will attempt to analyze each character as portrayed by Milton to see who, if any, fits this Criteria. God as a hero in Milton’s Paradise Lost. God is portrayed as an omniscient being that is following the guidelines of the Hebrew God found in the bible’s Old Testament but with a much more tyrannical twist. Although professing a great love for his creation, man, and his defense of the gift of humanities free will, he is portrayed as being incapable of understanding humankind and lacks both emotion and depth. He has no weaknesses and is the embodiment of pure logic. This makes God have no relatable or recognizable qualities that the reader can readily adapt to. Although God explains things such as why various events have occurred such as Satan’s decision to corrupt Adam and Eve, he gives all of his answers based in theological terms. He even fails to explain in this work why he allows evil to occur. Instead he explains that he will make good out of evil. He also showsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of John Orwell s Paradise Lost 882 Words   |  4 Pageshelp communicate a specific message or lesson. In Paradise Lost, Milton effectively uses the conventions of epics to justify the ways of God to humanity. Paradise Lost includes most if not all of the conventions of epics, however several conventions in particular are the ones that best communicate Milton s message. The first convention is a legendary hero who embodies the values of a civilization. Adam and Eve are our heroes in this story. While Adam and Eve are the only people in their civilizationRead MoreSimilarities and Differences of Paradise Lost and Frankenstein.1282 Words   |  6 Pagesthe two novels, Paradise Lost and Frankenstein, there are many striking similarities. What makes these two books so wonderful to read is the author s ability to write about the ultimate struggle; the struggle between God and Satan, or Good and Evil. The characters in Paradise Lost and in Frankenstein seem to be very similar to one another. God and Victor Frankenstein have many similarities. One of their similarities is that they are both creators of new life. The monster, Victor s creation, alsoRead MoreJohn Milton : A Strong Advocate Of Political Liberty Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesA strong advocate of political liberty, John Milton was a poet during the Renaissance (Puchner 2742). He was born on December 9, 1608 in London to a middle class family. His parents were John Milton, Sr., a professional composer, and his mother, Sara Jeffery. Milton had numerous siblings. He was only survived by three of them; however, some of them died at young ages. During Milton’s writing years, he wrote many pamphlets based on political, religious, populism, and educational topics. However, Milton’sRead MoreWho Can Blame The Poor Little Demon?1596 Words   |  7 Pagesmakes Satan an interesting character, almost a hero, although unwilling to repent, simply seeking his rightful place and when he cannot, and will not, he goes after God’s prized creations. Who can blame the poor little demon? Aren’t we accustomed to routing for the underdog? Milton gives Satan the gift of gab, intelligence and our viewpoint, which makes us see his point of view. Of all the poets who have introduced into their works the agency of supernatural beings, says McColley, Milton has succeededRead MoreSatan Is Evil Or Evil?1330 Words   |  6 PagesWhen hearing the word â€Å"Satan†, people often think of a red man with horns, a pitchfork, and a tail; he is often visualized in the pits of the underworld surrounded by flames. Why does society picture him this way? Some may say â€Å"Because he is evil† or â€Å"Because he fell from heaven†, but people mostly believe this because this is what they were taught. Satan is a figure appearing in many texts of religion as someone who brings evil and temptation. He is known as the deceiver who leads humanity astrayRead MoreEssay about John Miltons Paradise Lost as Christian Epic1147 Words   |  5 PagesParadise Lost as Christian Epic John Miltons great epic poem, Paradise Lost, was written between the 1640s and 1665 in England, at a time of rapid change in the western world. Milton, a Puritan, clung to traditional Christian beliefs throughout his epic, but he also combined signs of the changing modern era with ancient epic style to craft a masterpiece. He chose as the subject of his great work the fall of man, from Genesis, which was a very popular story to discuss and retell at the timeRead MoreBiblical Analysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1376 Words   |  6 Pagesof Genesis, Adam and Eve are punished for taking from the tree of knowledge. The event that is presented in Genesis involving Adam and Eve strongly correlates to the first volume of Frankenstein. Driven by his mother’s death, Frankenstein looks to science in order to combat the death and illness that surrounds him. His acquisition of this scientifical knowledge leads to the creation of a horrible being. By creating life, he is able to atta in the knowledge and status of an omnipotent God. In parallelRead MoreJohn Milton s Paradise Lost985 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Milton’s Paradise Lost is a paradox of morality and character definitions. After reading multiple articles, the largest concerning topic was the hero status of an inherently evil character. The issue lies within defining what a hero is and is not in terms of epic poetry. John Milton’s refusal to clarify a hero shows this paradox he has created is a something that he meant to achieve. According to Mary Nyquist in The Father s Word/Satan s Wrath, â€Å"The text seems here not just to invite, butRead MoreHeroic in Paradise Lost by John Lost Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesThe theme of the heroic in John Miltons Paradise Lost is one that has often been the focus of critical debate, namely in the debate surrounding which character is the true hero of the poem. Most critics of the subject have, however, noted that the difficultly in defining the he ro of Miltons work is mainly due to our â€Å"vague understanding of what constitutes heroism†1 and the fact that â€Å"the term itself is equivocal†2. The vague terming of what heroism can be defined as it what draws criticsRead MoreParadise Lost By John Milton853 Words   |  4 PagesAt first glance, Paradise Lost by John Milton can easily give the impression that this classic piece of literature is a cut copy of the Book of Genesis. Contrary to that notion, Milton’s retelling of the story of the fall of man differs from the western idealized Old Testament in many ways. Throughout the 10,000 lines of the poem, Milton characterizes Adam, Eve, and Satan [Lucifer] with vivid, well thought out dialogue. Overall, Milton’s reimplementation of the archetypal text of the Book of Genesis