Paradise Lost

This controversial poem of the seventeenth century centres around the creation myth. Through his rich and powerful verse Milton relates the story of the Fall of Mankind and the subsequent banishment from Paradise.

Milton's evocative representation of Eden has become ingrained in our everyday language as he conjures up the fiery Hell and idyllic Garden, the mysterious and awe-inspiring God and the cunning Satan, who decides 'Evil be thou my Good'. Eve is created as a companion for Adam, but Satan comes to her in the form of a serpent and tempts her to taste the succulent, forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Thus Man's 'free will' brought about the Fall, yet Milton's God is merciful and offers Adam and Eve a paradise on earth, to come from within themselves.

Paradise Lost conveys with clarity and vision an overall image of Creation and has deservedly become of of the greatest epics in any language.