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

Themes

Exam responses that are led by ideas are more likely to reach the highest levels of the mark scheme. Exploring the ideas of the text, specifically in relation to the question being asked, will help to increase your fluency and assurance in writing about the epic poem.

Below are some ideas which could be explored in Paradise Lost. This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to identify other ideas within the poem. Below you will find sections on:

• Sin and innocence

• Love and marriage

• Hierarchy and order

• Free will and predestination

• Gender

Producing a conceptualised essay answer will give you access to the very highest marks on the mark scheme, so having a good grasp of what themes Milton explores in Paradise Lost is essential.

Sin and innocence

Milton examines the loss of innocence through disobedience and explores the struggle between the temptation of sin and the desire for purity. Through the characters of Adam, Eve and Satan, Milton questions the nature of sin and the longing for redemption. 

Knowledge and evidence

• Adam and Eve symbolise the innocence of humanity:

  • Their disobedience to God's command not to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden results in the Fall of Man

  • This original sin leads to the expulsion of humanity from paradise and introduces sin, suffering and mortality into the world

• Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were innocently unaware of sin and its consequences:

  • However, their actions force them to confront their own flaws and the complexities of their existence

• Satan's persuasion and Eve's momentary weakness are vividly depicted by Milton and illustrate the powerful allure of sin

• Satan's ambition could be viewed as a catalyst for a necessary reckoning:

  • By challenging the established order, he forces Adam, and especially Eve, to confront their beliefs

  • In this interpretation, Satan’s rebellion becomes a means to unveil the strength of Adam and Eve's convictions

• Paradise stands in stark contrast to the rash decisions made by Adam and Eve:

  • The tranquillity and harmony of Eden, the leisurely pace of life and the idyllic surroundings serve as a poignant reminder of the blissful state that was lost due to human folly

• Eve's frustration with herself, Adam's frustration with Eve and Satan's eternal frustration at his damnation highlight the destructive power of ego and pride:

  • These frustrations serve as a powerful critique of human nature, illustrating how ego-driven decisions often lead to regret, despair and eternal consequences 

• The discipline of death, as a consequence of their lack of self-control, becomes a powerful metaphor for the impermanence of human life:

  • It serves as a reminder of the fragility of human existence and the inevitability of mortality

• Despite their guilt, both Adam and Eve have a desire to conceal the truth of their sin:

  • They attempt to hide out of shame, but cannot conceal their sin and instead confess when questioned

    • However, unlike the prelapsarian paradise where innocence reigned, after the Fall, truths cannot be hidden 

What is Milton’s intention?

• Milton portrays Adam and Eve’s Fall as a pivotal moment in order to convey how seemingly minor flaws can lead to catastrophic outcomes:

  • Their indulgence in the forbidden fruit illustrates the human struggle with temptation and the consequences of succumbing to desire 

Love and marriage

The theme of love and marriage is evident through the relationship of Adam and Eve, which is portrayed as a sacred union, blessed by divine sanction. God's love is also portrayed as all-encompassing, just and merciful. 

Knowledge and evidence

• Adam and Eve’s love is portrayed as pure and genuine:

  • Their relationship is characterised by a deep emotional bond and companionship

  • They both learn valuable lessons about the importance of self-control, resilience and redemption

• Additionally, their relationship conveys qualities of empathy and compassion:

  • Eve empathises with Adam’s concerns and fears and Adam understands Eve's curiosity and desire for knowledge

  • Adam and Eve's relationship, despite its flaws, is characterised by genuine love and mutual understanding

• The introduction of Satan tests the strength of Adam and Eve's marital bond:

  • Eve's vulnerability to temptation and subsequent disobedience challenge the harmony of their relationship

• In the prelapsarian world passion exists in a state of innocence and purity and has little meaning:

  • However, Satan's rebellion against God and his subsequent temptation of Eve shatters this tranquillity

• Consequently, Satan reveals the full potential of passion in its fallen strength:

  • He ignites the flame of desire, envy and pride within humanity which had previously been unknown to Adam and Eve

• Adam initially blames Eve harshly before later reconciliation in Book X

• In their post-lapsarian state, Adam and Eve find a source of fulfillment in each other:

  • Their relationship undergoes a transformation 

• Furthermore, their relationship is in stark contrast to the dynamics between God and Satan:

  • Satan's relationship with his followers is manipulative and coercive, rooted in deception and power struggles

• God's love is also portrayed as all-encompassing, just and merciful:

  • It is demonstrated through creation, forgiveness, guidance, justice and the divine plan

  • It illustrates His unwavering love for humanity despite disobedience and sin 

What is Milton’s intention?

• Milton conveys a complex message about love and marriage:

  • While he portrays the sacred nature of marital unions, he also explores the vulnerability of human love to external influences

• Milton's message illustrates the sanctity of love and marriage:

  • It conveys the significance of moral responsibility and resilience in maintaining a marital relationship 

Hierarchy and order

The theme of hierarchy and order is evident through the relationships between Adam, Eve, Satan and their Creator. The theme of hierarchy and order illustrate the dynamics of power, obedience and the consequences of rebellion against established structures in Heaven, Hell and Earth. 

Knowledge and evidence

• The pre-social hierarchies of Paradise Lost are either angelic or diabolic:

  • The angelic beings represent the heavenly hierarchy and embody virtues such as obedience, loyalty and devotion to the divine order

  • The diabolic beings are led by Satan and embody traits such as pride, envy and deceit

• Satan's rebellion against God's hierarchical order in Heaven serves as the focal point:

  • Satan's pride and ambition lead him to challenge the established hierarchy and to seek equality with God

  • His fall from grace illustrates the consequences of defying hierarchical structures and divine authority

• Consequently, Satan attempts to establish his own hierarchical order in Hell:

  • This chaotic state contrasts sharply with the ordered hierarchy of Heaven

  • It signifies the disorder that results from disobedience and rebellion

• Satan's pride, although traditionally associated with his rebellion against God, is portrayed in a complex light:

  • Pride becomes a tragic flaw, leading to his downfall

• Despite Satan’s intelligence and charisma, his refusal to accept his limitations and his rebellion against divine authority result in eternal damnation:

  • This portrayal challenges the traditional understanding of pride as a virtue, highlighting the destructive consequences of unchecked arrogance and ambition 

• Milton underscores the hierarchical distinction between Adam and Eve:

  • Adam occupies a position of unquestionable authority, while Eve is explicitly presented as subservient to him

  • The presence of this hierarchy introduces an imbalance of power and sets the scene for Eve’s temptation by Satan 

  • In this way, Eve is more vulnerable than Adam to the schemes of Satan

• The disruption of this earthly hierarchy occurs in Book IX, when Eve succumbs to temptation and convinces Adam to eat the forbidden fruit:

  • This disobedience shatters the established order and leads to the fall of humanity

• Eve's vulnerability and seemingly inferior intellect do not render her entirely powerless:

  • Instead, her defiance against accepting hierarchical norms is epitomised by her disobedience in consuming the forbidden fruit

  • In this light, Eve's actions are not merely impulsive but signify her willingness to challenge established orders

What is Milton’s intention?

• Milton explores the consequences of rebellion against established hierarchical structures:

  • The fall of Satan and his followers highlights the dangers of pride and ambition

  • The disruption caused by Adam and Eve's disobedience further coveys the fragility of human adherence to divine commands

• Milton highlights the importance of obedience, humility and the acceptance of the divine order

Free will and predestination

The theme of free will and predestination explores issues relating to fate, choice and the moral responsibility of individuals in the face of a predetermined destiny. Characters struggle with the complexities of their decisions within the framework of God's omniscience. 

Knowledge and evidence

• Milton explores the tension between human free will and the idea of divine predestination

• He examines the choices made by Adam and Eve in the context of God's foreknowledge and sovereignty:

  • Their decision, though driven by curiosity and temptation, is a manifestation of free will

• Milton portrays this as a tragic choice, conveying the moral dilemmas faced by human beings

• Eve's frustration with herself, Adam's frustration with Eve and Satan's eternal frustration at his damnation highlight the destructive power of ego and pride:

  • These frustrations serve as a powerful critique of human nature

  • They convey how ego-driven decisions often lead to regret, despair and eternal consequences 

• Paradise Lost presents what could be deemed as the most unwise decision in history:

  • The act of disobedience committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

  • The decision made by Adam and Eve is portrayed as a fundamental misjudgement that alters the destiny of humankind

• Eve’s encounter with Satan could be viewed not as a coincidence but rather as a consequence of Eve's own rebellious pursuit of independence and knowledge

• Further, Eve's compelling urge to distance herself from Adam, even if only momentarily, carries a poignant resonance with her initial act of defiance:

  • Her decision to momentarily separate herself from Adam, therefore, represents a recurring pattern of defiance against the predetermined order 

• Within the Christian theological framework, the Fall of Man is often viewed as a pivotal event in God's plan for humanity:

  • Theological perspectives therefore might view Adam and Eve's disobedience as a necessary step in God's divine plan, which allows for the eventual redemption of humanity

• While the disobedience itself is acknowledged as a grave sin, some interpretations highlight God's foreknowledge and divine sovereignty:

  • From this view, the seemingly unwise decision becomes a part of a broader narrative of salvation

  • It demonstrates God's mercy and grace in the face of human error

What is Milton’s intention?

• Milton's message focuses on the interplay between divine wisdom and human desires

• Milton acknowledges the concept of predestination within the divine plan:

  • God's foreknowledge of human actions suggests a predetermined course, yet this foreknowledge does not negate human responsibility

  • People, while aware of God's knowledge, still navigate their lives with a sense of choice and accountability 

Gender

The theme of gender is largely depicted through the character of Eve. Eve, as the first woman, embodies both the nurturing and seductive aspects traditionally associated with femininity. Her portrayal reflects social norms of Milton's time and depicts women as both virtuous and susceptible to temptation. 

Knowledge and evidence

• Eve's character embodies certain stereotypes associated with women:

  • She is depicted as curious and independent but is also easily swayed by flattery and temptation

  • This portrayal aligns with the prevailing 17th-century beliefs about women's moral and intellectual inferiority, reinforcing traditional gender roles

• However, despite Eve's vulnerability, Milton also endows her with strength and resilience:

  • She exhibits intelligence and eloquence in her conversations with Adam, challenging him intellectually

  • This complexity in her character challenges simplistic gender stereotypes

• After the Fall, the dynamics between Adam and Eve undergo significant change:

  • Traditional gender roles are further challenged as they struggle with guilt, blame and the consequences of their actions

• While Eve initially accepts the blame for their fate, Adam later accepts his own responsibility:

  • This illustrates a shift from the traditional gender dynamics where men were often seen as superior and women as the source of temptation and sin

• Additionally, Eve's role as a temptress and the cause of humanity's downfall can be reinterpreted:

  • Milton portrays her with remorse and a deep sense of responsibility

  • This complicates the simplistic notion of her as the villain

• Adam's words and actions towards Eve could be viewed as being condescending and patriarchal:

  • He implies that she is the weaker vessel and therefore more susceptible to temptation

  • They reflect the societal attitudes prevalent during Milton's time

• According to some interpretations, Eve's decision to disobey God's command and seek knowledge challenges the established hierarchical order, which was designed by God

• It could be interpreted that Eve's desire for knowledge, which was typically associated with masculinity in Milton's universe, disrupts traditional gender roles:

  • It could be viewed that her disobedience encroaches on Adam's position and diminishes her femininity, which is her beauty

What is Milton’s intention?

• Through the complexities of Eve's character, Milton subtly critiques the societal limitations placed on women:

  • Milton's depiction prompts reflection on societal expectations and the potential for female empowerment within those constraints

• Milton's message conveys the limitations imposed by gender roles but also hints at the possibility of transcending these constraints