Patriarchy In Paradise Lost

A New Outlook on Theodicy

(A critique of John Milton’s response to the theodicy question in the epic poem, Paradise Lost)

“Attempting to justify God and to assert his supreme power and beneficence, Milton makes numerous pronouncements about the existence of free will, both as narrator and in the speeches of God and the angels. In his arguments in favor of free will, Milton makes a determined attempt to remove God from all blame, keeping him, therefore, unassociated with evil and not responsible for its existence” (Morbey). The theodicy question has been a long term debate and continues even through today. It is inevitable that humans have wondered why they are here and so the creation of a higher being is a simple solution to that debate.

During the time in which this epic poem was derived, it was not uncommon for men to be considered above women in nearly every aspect. Feminism and equality of women is actually a fairly recent topic of discussion compared to how long the Patriarchy was thriving and how it is still highly influential today. Kaitlyn MacPhee, a scholar at the University of Washington, says about the matter, “In this light, woman is eternally in debt to man since she owes him her very creation. Because of this, the power relation between them can never be equalled. Adam always assumes the position of power when important matters are concerned, and Eve devotedly defers to him” (MacPhee). MacPhee’s point is a valid one, as God did create woman from man’s rib and in the case of this epic poem, woman will never be equal to man. Eve from the very beginning is seemingly selfish compared to Adam, as she first speaks of herself, whereas Adam first speaks of God. Another way that Eve is portrayed as less than man is that it is mentioned how Eve will worship the God in Adam, but Adam worships only God and so he is above her. These subtle facts set up the reader for Eve causing the downfall of mankind. After Eve messes everything up for mankind and God speaks to them, he tells her she will forever reign underneath her husband and how Adam is mostly being punished for listening to Eve. “Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply by thy conception; children thou shalt bring in sorrow forth, and to thy Husband’s will thine shalt submit, hee over thee” (Book 10, lines 193-196). This line portrays Milton’s explanation for the making of the patriarchy and the answer is as simple as there is a patriarchy because God saw it as right. Although modern society has been slowly moving away from this idea, there are fundamental things that men can do that women cannot, as well as things women can do that men cannot.