Page 201 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

British Poetry

Notes Satan returns to the Garden of Eden the night after Raphael’s departure. Satan’s return comes eight
days after he was caught and banished by Gabriel. He sneaks in over the wall, avoiding Gabriel and
the other guards. After studying all the animals of the Garden, Satan considers what disguise he
should assume, and chooses to become a snake. Before he can continue, however, he again hesitates—
not because of doubt this time, but because of his grief at not being able to enjoy this wondrous new
world. He struggles to control his thoughts. He now believes that the Earth is more beautiful than
Heaven ever was, and becomes jealous of Adam and Eve and their chosen status to occupy and
maintain Paradise. He gripes that the excess beauty of Earth causes him to feel more torment and
anguish. Gathering his thoughts into action, he finds a sleeping serpent and enters its body.
The next morning, Adam and Eve prepare for their usual morning labors. Realizing that they have
much work to do, Eve suggests that they work separately, so that they might get more work done.
Adam is not keen on this idea. He fears that they will be more susceptible to Satan’s temptation if
they are alone. Eve, however, is eager to have her strength tested. After much resistance, Adam
concedes, as Eve promises Adam that she will return to their bower soon. They go off to do their
gardening independently.

Analysis
Milton begins Book IX as he began Books I and VII: with an invocation and plea for guidance, as
well as a comparison of his task to that of the great Greek and Roman epics, the Iliad, Odyssey, and
the Aeneid. Milton explains by way of this invocation that Adam and Eve’s fall is the major event
that occurs in Paradise Lost. Their fall is the poem’s climax, even though it comes as no surprise. By
describing the fall as tragic, Milton conveys the gravity and seriousness of this catastrophe for all of
humankind, but he also situates Adam and Eve’s story within the literary conventions of tragedy,
in which a great man falls because of a special flaw within his otherwise larger-than-life character.
The fall paves the way for humankind’s ultimate redemption and salvation, and thus Milton can
claim that his epic surpasses Homer’s and Virgil’s because it pertains to the entire human race, not
one hero or even one nation.
Milton mocks the knightly romances of the Middle Ages on the grounds that they applaud merely
superficial heroism. The idea of the chivalrous warrior was an oxymoron in Milton’s view. Milton
presents his hero as a morally powerful person—Adam’s strength and martial prowess are entirely
irrelevant. Milton voices doubts about whether his society will appreciate a real Christian hero, or
whether he himself is still skilled enough or young enough to complete his literary task, balancing
his confidence in his own ability with the humility appropriate to a Christian poet.
Satan’s return to the story presents him as a changed and further degenerated character. Before the
temptation of Eve, we see Satan go through another bit of soul-searching. This time, however, he
does not waver in his determination to ruin humankind, but only makes a cold expression of regret
for things that might have been. Milton notes that Satan is driven to action by the grief and turmoil
he feels inside and by his wounded sense of pride. It is clear now that Satan’s decision to corrupt
humankind is final, yet he still thinks about how he would have enjoyed the beauty of Earth if he
had not rebelled. Milton displays the internal agony that results from the sin of despair: Satan can
clearly see, despite all his previous arguments, that it would have been better to remain good.
However, he has forbidden himself from even considering the possibility of repentance. As a result,
he degenerates further and further, making his mind and body his own personal Hell.

Why is Book IX a central part of the epic poem?

Milton has given absolute power to the reason and free will of both men and Satan, only to show
that the mind can defeat itself—using reason to arrive at an unreasonable position. Satan’s thoughts

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