In the novel Paradise Lost, John Milton creates an alternative story for the Genesis creation story, where gender roles are reversed, Satan is sexualized, and God is presented as a more forgiving figure when Adam and Eve ate fruit from the forbidden tree. Because of the more realistic standards and beliefs portrayed in the novel, Paradise Lost is a more easily acceptable truth compared to the Bible’s Genesis.
- First section: Gender Roles
- Eve is portrayed as a more sophisticated and dependable character
- Adam has more of a almost “goofy” way about him, in the sense that he does not appear as a well rounded and intelligent male figure
- Satan is sexualized
- Satan appears to be more of an “underdog,” or someone who the audience roots for
- Satan is shown as a character with drive and passion, which many people see as appealing traits
- God is a more forgiving character
- When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, instead of the taking the more strict, reprimanding figure, as shown in Genesis, God is shown as more of a forgiving figure
- God explains that although they made a mistake, human kind can redeem themselves
- Passages in Paradise Lost:
- Book 1- “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven
- Book 6- Adam rants about his admiration of his appearance to Rafael, although Eve is the one shown as the vain character initially
- Book 9- Eve is convinced by Satan to eat the apple, but convinces Adam very quickly using her feminine charm
- Book 10- Adam immediately blames Eve for the fact that they ate the apple
- Book 11- God hears Adam and Eves prayers and plans on allowing human kind to redeem themselves
- Sources:
- Shields, Erin, and John Milton. Paradise Lost. First edition., First ed., Playwrights Canada Press, 2018. INSERT-MISSING-DATABASE-NAME, public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=5840976. Accessed 20 Feb. 2020.
- Loewenstein, David. Milton : Paradise Lost. 2nd ed., 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2004. INSERT-MISSING-DATABASE-NAME, INSERT-MISSING-URL. Accessed 20 Feb. 2020.
- Gardner, Helen. A Reading of Paradise Lost. Clarendon Press, 1965.
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