Chapter Themes of Paradise Lost - Study Guide by John Milton

bowels of their mother Earth" (l.689), and "tore Hell’s Concave" (l.542) to construct Pandaemonium. It is here that

"High on a Throne of Royal State, which far

Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind

Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand

Show’rs on her Hings Barbaric Pearl and Gold,

Satan exalted sat, by merit rais’d

To that bad eminence."

(II.1-6)

Following the picture of Satan, Pandaemonium, and the design to "adventure" and expand the Satanic domain to God’s new creation, in Book II Milton introduces his reader to heaven (II.1037-55) and in Book III, God. In heaven there are no illusions or disguises, it is a realm where false appearance is derided, yet the overall reality is overwhelming. Milton sought to disclose the mystery of heaven with rational lucidity.

On his return to hell Satan announces he will lead his followers "forth | Triumphant out of this eternal pit" (X.452-64). Satan transformed by the power of God, emerges metamorphosed as a hideous dragon. The devils too are transformed, and the deceivers finally become the deceived.

"Deceiv’d; they fondly thinking to allay

Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit

Chew’d bitter ashes."

Satan had boasted to Sin and Death his own creation would rival God’s, claiming that in founding "Th’ Infernal Empire … so near Heav’n’s door" finally "Triumphal with triumphal act have met". The final anti- triumph turns Satan’s empire into an even more terrible hell, his conspiracy for the Fall of Adam and Eve being his one fleeting victory. Milton ends the demonic grand illusion with Satan and his retinue condemned to eternal punishment, and the promise that at the Apocalypse hell will be sealed forever.

Eden

At the beginning of Paradise Lost Milton declares his interest in establishing,

"what cause

Moved our grand parents in that happy state,

Favoured of heaven so highly, to fall off

From their creator…"

(I.28-31)

Eden is central to the plot of Paradise Lost. It is there that action so relevant for the fate of humankind Milton seeks to explore and explain occurs. Through his choice of language, Milton successfully manages to impose upon his reader awareness or expectancy of the Fall. We are introduced to Eden and Adam and Eve only after learning of Satan’s ambitions and the divine plan for postlapsarian renewal. Essential