Paradise Lost Civil War

In the years following a brutal civil war that divided his country, English author and poet John Milton desired to give a public explanation for God’s intentions. As he worked on his piece, England was in turmoil with political and religious upheavals, and Milton himself struggled with blindness and humiliation (Making 517, John Milton 519). However, he continued to aim toward justifying God’s ways through his epic Paradise Lost. The author elaborates on the civil war between Good and Evil to lead “readers to reflect on England’s own civil war” (Background 524). In his efforts, Milton purposely contradicts the typical Genesis account of the fall of man by creating Satan to be a “dark hero.” Through many innovative methods, Milton transforms

Milton displays the standpoint of Satan and his intentions, rather than those of God, because the author intends to express that the Devil is the source of all evil. Milton includes that Satan lives to subvert God’s deeds of grace, as he resolves to “be the contrary to his high will” (161). In this explanation, Milton demonstrates that Satan also depends on God, for he is “in bondage” to the plans of the ultimate Strategist (Fish 535). Nonetheless, Milton shows that God allows evil to happen, because He gives humans—including the dark angels such as Satan—free will. Although Milton expresses God’s victory over darkness as an “undoubted triumph” to describe God’s power, the author also displays God’s devotion to his creation by expelling Satan and his followers from His presence yet still allowing them free will. Milton’s new portrayal of the Bible account not only draws readers’ curiosity but also leads the audience to believe that God allows suffering out of love for His people. While He does not wish to take the dignity away from the fallen angels, He also desires not to limit humans’ experiences. By giving them the opportunity to choose evil, God allows mankind to know goodness, which Milton conveys to his distressed