Introduction
The poem Paradise Lost, written by John Milton, tells about the fall from Heaven to hell, through which a portrait of Satan is revealed to readers as one of the leading characters. Further, his formation as the Chief in hell occurs and is described, and he begins to plan revenge on God. From here, the basis of the main storyline of the confrontation in the poem emerges. By studying Paradise Lost, Milton’s views on the will of God can be identified.
Historical Context and Stylistic Influences in Milton’s Work
John Milton’s worldview was not formed in simple times during the beginning of the revolutionary movement. The features of that time can be traced in the work under study, as they were transformed into a multi-genre epic about the confrontation between two forces. Nevertheless, despite crossing some styles, the author failed to create a new and unique one (Blessington 19). One of the features that the text conveys from the author can be called the inconsistency of religious topics. This is determined by the difference between authentic and fictional images based on religion.
Nature and Character Mood
The next aspect that can be considered in the work is the connection between what is happening and nature. All the poem’s heroes feel their environment and understand what is happening. Each character fits the nature in that their mood changes depending on the location.
For example, Satan strains hard to fly through chaos, but when he gets into Eden, he experiences peace. John Milton uses the word Monarch as an epithet for God, and here, the realities of his day come through rebellion against royalty (The John Milton Reading Room 42). The rebels overthrown from Heaven were against the Monarch, whose actions seemed unfair to them. Thus, a unique attitude toward God is traced not to an ideal being but to one who tends to make mistakes. At the same time, the decisions of God are presented as a priori correct, and it remains only to come to terms with them.
Milton’s Complex Portrayal of God and the Monarch Concept
The text traces how Milton relates to divine will and deeds. The poet was intensely religious and wrote Paradise Lost to express personal spiritual thoughts and experiences. According to Milton’s conclusion, God created man as a rational being, and their mind is a gift of God and a cognitive power, indicating an inseparable connection with the Creator (Blessington 25).
In union with conscience, each person can distinguish between good and evil, with an aesthetic sense – to seek beauty, and with faith – to know God and his holy will. God plans to guide people to the true path and free their souls. Divine will and deeds are to rid the world of suffering and sin by helping people. This shows Milton’s apparent position on the acts that God does for and their reasons, such as protecting believers and all living people. In the poem, God is absolute goodness who wants peace to reign on earth, and each time, the author shows that Satan’s rebellion led to disastrous consequences for people.
Religion as Revelation and Revolutionary Spirit in Milton’s Epic
Milton saw in religion a divine revelation in which he sought answers to painful questions about the course of contemporary events. However, precisely because he turned to Scripture to clarify the meaning of the events of his era, the Old Testament story, which he used in the poem, was filled with the atmosphere of this age. And then, the heroic spirit of the revolution penetrated Milton’s poem partly at the will of the poet himself, partly against his will and desire, transforming his original intention.
Conclusion
Thus, religious and ethical, political, and philosophical elements are closely intertwined in the concept of Milton’s epic poem. The author witnessed and participated in a grandiose social upheaval and was deeply aware of its epic scale and universal significance. That is why it can be assumed that by creating books about the great battle between God and Satan, the poet consciously sought to embody the general atmosphere of the Civil War.
Works Cited
Blessington, Francis C. Paradise lost and the classical epic. Routledge, 2019. Web.
The John Milton Reading Room. Paradise Lost. (n. d.). Web.