Paradise Lost

What is Paradise Lost about?

Paradise Lost (1667) is John Milton’s epic poem in blank verse, retelling the biblical story of Satan’s rebellion against God, the war in Heaven, and the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The poem opens with Satan and his rebel angels cast into Hell after their failed revolt, where Satan rallies his followers and plots revenge by corrupting God’s newest creation—humanity. Milton’s portrayal of Satan—proud, eloquent, and charismatic in his defiance—is one of literature’s most complex characterizations, creating a figure who has fascinated readers and divided critics for centuries. The poem encompasses cosmic warfare, celestial debate, the beauty of Eden, the psychology of temptation, and the consequences of disobedience, all rendered in Milton’s magnificent grand style. Paradise Lost engages with fundamental questions about free will, obedience, knowledge, and the nature of evil that transcend its religious framework. Its influence on English poetry is immeasurable—from the Romantics (who saw Satan as a revolutionary hero) to contemporary literature. Composed while Milton was completely blind, Paradise Lost stands as one of the supreme achievements of the human imagination.