Paradise Lost: Characters (OCR A Level English Literature): Revision Note

Characters

Milton uses his characters to symbolise various ideas prevalent in his society, and differences between characters reflect contemporary debates. Therefore it is very useful not only to learn about each character individually, but how they compare and contrast to other characters in the poem.

Characters can be symbolic, representing certain ideas or ideals, so it is essential that you consider:

• societal groups or themes represented by characters 

• how characters are established

• how characters are presented via:

  • their actions and motives

  • what they say and think

  • how they interact with others

  • what others say and think about them

  • their physical appearance or description

• how far the characters conform to or subvert stereotypes

• the relationships between characters

Below you will find detailed character profiles of:

Characters

• Satan

• Adam

• Eve

• God the Father

• God the Son

Satan

• Milton depicts Satan as a highly intelligent and charismatic figure:

  • His rebellion against God and his determination to corrupt humanity demonstrate his intellect and cunning nature

• However, despite his brilliance, Satan's pride, arrogance and refusal to submit to divine authority lead him to damnation:

  • His character represents the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of rejecting God's will

  • Satan's downfall is a result of his refusal to accept his limitations and acknowledge the supremacy of God

• In casting Satan as an epic hero, Milton imbues him with qualities traditionally associated with heroic figures:

  • This is apparent in Satan's rebellion against divine authority, his eloquence and his ability to persuade his followers

• However, this portrayal is laced with irony, as Satan's heroism is misplaced:

  • Satan’s defiance against fate, a characteristic often celebrated in epic heroes, leads not to triumph but to tragedy

  • Milton presents an ironic contrast between these heroic qualities and the ultimate futility of Satan’s endeavours

•  Another layer of irony is evident through how Satan perceives himself and how he is perceived by the reader:

  • He views himself as a valiant hero fighting against tyranny; however the reader observes the depths of his deception and his fall from grace

  • This dissonance between perception and reality conveys the gap between his self-image and the truth 

• His refusal to accept divine providence, while emblematic of free will, only serves to deepen his fall

• Further, Satan’s encounters with Eve illustrate his ability to exploit human vulnerabilities:

  • His manipulation reveals his cunning and awareness of human desires and fears

• His internal struggle, torn between his malevolence and his appreciation for the beauty of Eden, makes him a tragically flawed figure:

  • His ambition and pride, while admirable, lead to his eternal damnation and the downfall of humanity

• Through Satan, Milton questions the nature of free will as Satan’s choices lead him towards self-destruction:

  • His defiance against God transforms into a representation of misguided free will

  • This challenges the Renaissance perspective that viewed free will as an unquestionable virtue

• It could be interpreted that Satan's relatability stems from his human-like qualities, making him easier to empathise with compared to the divine figures of God or the Son:

  • As a representation of human flaws, his character is perhaps easier for readers to comprehend

• Satan's nobility is tragically marred by hubris:

  • His unwavering confidence in his own abilities blinds him to the consequences of his actions

• Despite his rebellion stemming from a desire for freedom, his refusal to accept responsibility for his choices reveals the depth of his moral ambiguity

• Satan's despair transforms into the catalyst for his escalating malevolence:

  • His rage and irrationality consume him and compel him to embrace evil as a virtue

Adam

• Adam, the First Man created by God, occupies a position of unquestionable authority:

  • He is crafted in the divine image, endowed with intellect, wisdom and strength

• Milton depicts Adam as a tragic figure who struggles with temptation:

  • He falls from innocence and embarks on a journey toward self-awareness and redemption

• Despite his exalted status as the First Man, Adam experiences existential discontent:

  • He questions why he was created and conveys his frustrations and disillusionment with the world

  • His inquiries to Raphael about creation and the vastness of the universe hint at a growing temptation

• Adam and Eve's relationship symbolises innocence and purity

• Adam succumbs to temptation, leading to their shared exile from Paradise: 

  • His innate goodness and the purity of his intentions make his subsequent fall from grace more poignant

• Adam confronts the consequences of his actions and his deep remorse and sorrow reflect his moral integrity:

  • He mourns not only for the paradise lost but also for humanity, which will inherit the consequences of their Fall

• Adam’s decision to comply with Eve's choice, despite his reservations, conveys a subtle shift in traditional gender dynamics:

  • This depiction reflects the complexity of masculinity and explores the idea of shared responsibility between genders

  • It indicates his yearning to explore the forbidden knowledge that lies within the realm of the Tree of Knowledge

• Despite this internal struggle, Adam maintains a degree of self-discipline:

  • Aware of the consequences of their disobedience, Adam seeks redemption and forgiveness

  • This demonstrates his commitment to his relationship with God  

Eve

• Fashioned from Adam's rib, Eve is depicted as subservient to him:

  • While Milton endows Eve with her own distinctiveness, her creation reinforces the hierarchical order prevalent in both the Biblical narrative and societal norms of the time

  • The act of creation becomes an embodiment of male dominance and female subordination

• However, despite her subservient role, Milton portrays her as a complex character with her own desires, thoughts and motivations:

  • She is portrayed as a woman who possesses the capacity for independent reasoning, questioning and decision-making

• Eve's actions, particularly her decision to eat the forbidden fruit, therefore challenge traditional gender roles

• Eve demonstrates a desire for independence and knowledge, which could be interpreted as a longing for freedom from societal constraints:

  • She exhibits curiosity and a strong will, and desires to explore the world and gain wisdom

• However, her actions, including her temptation and subsequent fall, are open to various interpretations:

  • One interpretation suggests Eve’s actions stem from an innate human curiosity and her insatiable desire to explore, learn, and understand the world around her, rather than disobedience

  • Other interpretations view Eve’s temptation as a metaphorical representation of the eternal battle between reason and desire

• Eve's independence is a departure from the submissive and obedient role expected of women during Milton's era

• Satan exploits traditional gender stereotypes to deceive Eve:

  • He recognises and exploits the vulnerability associated with Eve's femininity

• Eve's vanity is evident in her fascination with her own reflection and her desire for self-admiration 

• While Milton depicts Eve as a fragile figure, he also empowers her by placing her on a parallel with Satan in her rejection of hierarchical structures

• Eve is generally blamed for the Fall and her disobedience is seen as the source of all human suffering:

  • However, she questions Adam and makes her own decisions, demonstrating independence of thought and action

  • This portrayal of Eve as a rational and independent individual challenged the prevailing notion of women as inferior and subordinate

God the Father

• God the Father is depicted as a divine figure who demonstrates both justice and mercy in response to the events in Eden

• God's justice is evident in the consequences He imposes on Adam and Eve for their disobedience:

  • They are expelled from the confines of Eden and humanity is sentenced to a life of hardship and mortality

  • This punishment reflects God's adherence to the principle of justice

  • His justice conveys the seriousness of the disobedience and establishes a moral framework for the poem

• God's mercy is also evident:

  • Despite their Fall, He shows Adam and Eve mercy by allowing them to live and reproduce

• God also hints at the eventual redemption of humanity through the promise of a future Messiah:

  • This act of mercy illustrates God's benevolence and love for His creations despite their disobedience

• God's omnipotence and omniscience are depicted throughout the poem:

  • His omniscient nature is evident in His awareness of Satan's plot and His ability to foresee the course of human history

• God's omnipotence is also demonstrated in His ability to execute His divine plan despite the rebellion of His creations:

  • This reinforces His supreme authority and control over all things

God the Son

• Milton depicts God the Son as the embodiment of sacrificial love:

  • His willingness to incarnate as a mortal human being exemplifies his selflessness

  • This sacrificial gesture signifies divine love in its purest form and illustrates God the Son's willingness to bear the burden of humanity's sin

• Milton uses God the Son to explore the theme of predestination and questions about fate, choice and the nature of God's divine plan

• The Son embodies God's active presence:

  • While God the Father remains in Heaven, the Son takes on the role of casting out Satan and his fallen angel

  • The Son serves as the link between God the Father and His creation and is used to bridge the gap between the divine and the earthly

• His interactions with Adam and Eve are marked by understanding and empathy:

  • His ability to see beyond their transgressions and offer hope and guidance humanises his divine nature

• Through this sacrifice, God the Son provides hope and redemption, despite the despair caused by Adam and Eve's Fall:

  • He provides assurance of future salvation through prophecies about his eventual victory over sin and death