Paradise Lost

"Paradise Lost" by John Milton is an epic poem written during the early 17th century. The poem explores profound themes such as free will, redemption, and the nature of good and evil, primarily through the story of humanity's fall from grace. Central characters include Satan, whose rebellion against God leads to his downfall, and Adam and Eve, whose disobedience results in their expulsion from Eden. The opening of "Paradise Lost" sets the stage for the cosmic struggle between good and evil following Satan's rebellion against God. It begins with an invocation to the Muse, seeking divine inspiration to recount the story of mankind's "First Disobedience" and the subsequent consequences. We learn of Satan’s envy and fury after his expulsion from Heaven and his plans to corrupt God's newest creation, humanity. The poem establishes a tone of grandiosity and gravity, outlining the tragic foreshadowing of humanity's plight while emphasizing themes such as ambition, loss, and the delicate balance between free will and predestination. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. His 1667 epic poem Paradise Lost, written in blank verse and including twelve books, was written in a time of immense religious flux and political upheaval. It addressed the fall of man, including the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and God's expulsion of them from the Garden of Eden. Paradise Lost elevated Milton's reputation as one of history's greatest poets. He also served as a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under its Council of State and later under Oliver Cromwell.