Milton's religious views reflect the time in which he lived and the church to which he belonged. One problem is that Paradise Lost is almost militantly Christian in an age that now seeks out diverse viewpoints and admires the man who stands forth against the accepted view. The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar,Īllured them thence from Cups to civil Broiles.Modern criticism of Paradise Lost has taken many different views of Milton's ideas in the poem. He looked, & saw the face of things quite changed The wars ceased but Adam’s posterity followed the natural man and began to indulge in adultery, fornication, rape, licentiousness, libertinism, debauchery, wantonness, and abandonment. Michael directed Adam’s eyes as he looked into the future.

High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss,Įxempt from Death to shew thee what rewardĪwaits the good, the rest what punishment Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steedsĭid, as thou sawst, receive, to walk with God To judge them with his Saints: Him the most High Michael points out that God rewards the good and punishes the evil.īut he the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldstĪnd utter odious Truth, that God would come Michael tells Adam of Noah, the only righteous man in an evil world.

Thus Fame shall be achieved, renown on Earth,Īnd what most merits fame in silence hid. Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods,ĭestroyers rightlier call’d and Plagues of men. Of triumph, to be styl’d great Conquerors, Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Such were these Giants, men of high renown įor in those days Might only shall be admir’d, Produce prodigious Births of body or mind. Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselves Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw’st It goes along with Milton’s theme to justify the ways of God to man.

From Milton’s point of view Adam and Eve were Christians and Christianity was first taught to the human race by our first parents. We are told by Peter that only eight souls were saved on the Ark.īy which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.īeing the father and mother of the human race, through Milton’s eyes, the teachings of Christ and his atonement were taught by Adam and Eve to their posterity and handed down from generation to generation. Michael is showing Adam the future up until the flood of Noah. Adam pleads but submits: the Angel leads him up to a high hill sets before him a vision what shall happen till the Flood. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs he discerns Michael's approach goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dispossess them but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. In the prologue to Book XI, Milton writes. Season 4 Podcast 56 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XLI, “The Intercession, Pt V”

Milton paradise lost