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Paradise Lost 2 - Papers

Paradise Lost 2

Milton is widely considered to be one of the five greatest poets in the English language and Paradise Lost, a religious epic, is his greatest masterpiece. As stated in the beginning of the first book of Paradise Lost, Milton's intention for writing his religious epic is, among some other things, to justify the ways of God to men.
Milton's audience, of course, is a fallen audience, like the narrator of the epic. Some may think Satan is the hero of the epic; Milton has been blamed for making Satan too heroic a character. Others may blame God for allowing the falls to occur. However, both of these readings are shortsighted and are not what Milton intended. Therefore, to prevent ...

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own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,
Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknow.

God states that His knowledge of future events is not the same as predestination, he establishes himself as merely a bystander in these events. To force His divine will on the Angels or Man would be an injustice to each particular creature's own free will. Instead, God must let each creature act on its own choices. In turn, God must act as a judge: He must honestly reward the faithful and justly punish the violators.

The concept of free will is of utmost importance to God, and it is the key to justifying the falls and properly placing blame.

I made him [Man] just and right
Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall
Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers
And Spirits, both them who stood and them who fail'd
Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.

Milton explains here, that although both the angels and men are his creations ...

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Paradise Lost 2. (2005, August 28). Retrieved January 8, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Paradise-Lost-2/32403

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 8/28/2005 08:04:58 PM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 476
Pages: 2

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