Paradise Lost Context Flashcards
The English Civil War: Who was it between? What happened, and who won?
The Civil War was primarily fought between the Royalists, who supported King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians, who supported the Parliamentary system.
Key factors to its cause included disagreements over governance of the country, the authority of the monarchy, and religious freedoms.
Ultimately the Parliamentarians emerged victorious. Charles I was captured, tried, and executed, leading to the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.
What was John Milton’s role in the Civil War?
John Milton was involved in the propaganda aspects of the Civil War.
He served as a civil servant under the Commonwealth regime,
Milton wrote pamphlets supporting the Puritan and Parliamentarian cause, advocating for the abolition of the monarchy
Who did Milton support and why?
Milton supported the Parliamentarians, aligning with their Puritanical views and their push for a government that would allow more religious liberties, reflective of his own beliefs in freedom and self-determination
His writings often expressed his disdain for tyranny, whether political or ecclesiastical (priestly)
Gender Roles and Rules in the Protectorate Era (commonwealth era)
England was under Puritan influence - emphasised the importance of family:
men were the heads of the households, responsible for the family’s economic welfare
women were involved in domestic duties and child-rearing, expected to be submissive and supportive
Social and political roles were largely reserved for men.
Representation of Gender Roles in “Paradise Lost” Books 9 and 10
Book 9 describes the Fall of Man - reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes, Eve portrayed as weaker, and more susceptible to temptation.
Adam, though initially resistant, yields to Eve out of love, indicating a different form of weakness.
In Book 10, the consequences of their actions are explored, emphasising the shifts in their relationship and the imbalance that leads to mutual accusations.
Milton’s Views on Gender Roles
On one hand, he seems to uphold conventional views, depicting Eve as subordinate to Adam and responsible for the Fall, a reflection of the patriarchal view of women as morally and intellectually weaker.
However, Milton also gives Eve a very articulate voice, allowing her to express profound thoughts and emotions, suggesting a recognition of her inner life and moral complexity.
His other writings, including his tract on divorce, argue for the intellectual companionship between husband and wife - he saw marriage as a partnership, albeit within the constraints of the hierarchical norms of his time.
Influence of Gender Roles on Characters/Events in Books 9 and 10
Eve’s decision to wander off alone sets the stage for the Fall
Her interaction with Satan - a transgression of the expected obedience to her husband’s guidance
After the Fall, the dynamics of their relationship change, illustrating the destructive potential of not adhering to the divinely ordained roles
This narrative can be seen as a reinforcement of the importance of defined gender roles to maintain cosmic and social order.
Utilisation of the Great Chain of Being in “Paradise Lost” Books 9 and 10
Milton employs the concept of the Great Chain of Being to frame the cosmic order and the consequences of its disruption
Key events and character actions illustrate the implications of transgressing this divine order:
The Fall of Adam and Eve: By disobeying God’s command, Adam and Eve disrupt the established hierarchy, where humans are positioned below God. Their sin represents a fundamental attempt to alter their place in this divine order, aspiring to “be as gods” (Book 9)
The Punishments: The punishments that God gives to Adam, Eve, and Satan reflect their disturbances to the Great Chain of Being. Satan, having already fallen due to his earlier rebellion, is further punished and transformed into a serpent, pushing him lower down the hierarchy closer to the animal kingdom. Adam and Eve face mortality and expulsion from Eden, significant demotions in their status in the natural and divine order.
Character Dynamics: Satan’s temptation of Eve is an act of subversion of the divine hierarchy, as he, a fallen angel, manipulates a human who was initially placed higher than him in the state of innocence.
The Nature of Evil as Attractive
Contextual Influences
17th century conflicts presented themselves as battles between good and evil, where both sides claimed divine sanction for their actions. Milton saw how charismatic leaders could lead their followers astray. EG, the allure of monarchial power, despite its potential for tyranny, might have influenced his portrayal of Satan, whose initial heroic qualities decay into tyranny and despair.
Attractiveness of Evil
Satan’s initial grandeur serves to make his eventual moral degradation more tragic. Satan’s eloquence and bravery initially appear noble, but these traits are revealed to be rooted in pride and ambition.
Milton uses this transformation to illustrate how evil can initially appear appealing, drawing individuals away from true good with false promises.
Other Epic Poems and the Concept of Pride
Homer’s “Iliad” - Achilles’ pride
Virgil’s “Aeneid” - Turnus’s pride and desire for fame
What are the 7 Deadly Sins?
Pride
Greed
Lust
Envy
Gluttony
Wrath
Sloth
Relevance of the 7 Deadly Sins to “Paradise Lost”
Pride: Both Adam and Eve exhibit pride; Eve in her desire for wisdom and to be “as gods,” and Adam in his choice to follow Eve knowingly into sin
Greed: Eve’s ambition to gain knowledge and power beyond what was permitted can be seen as a form of spiritual greed
Lust: Post-Fall, Adam and Eve engage in passionate intercourse - suggests a perversion of their previously pure sexual union, indicating lust.
Other Epic Poems and the consequences of the Seven Deadly Sins / general sins
Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy” - Dante explores the theme of sin and its punishments in the afterlife
What can Satan sin and death be a perversion of
a perversion of divine hierarchy
Inversion of the trinity
Death as a consequence of sin - other text
Paradise Lost - Death is an incestuous consequence of sin
Divine Comedy - Charon functions within the framework of death as a consequence of sin
