Dear Aspirant,

John Milton's poem "Paradise Lost" is an epic poem written in blank verse in the 17th century. It is based on Milton's religious views of the time which were against the accepted notions of Christianity. This poetry has a lot of history behind and also an autobiographical projection of Milton's self-image. He talks about the events of the Bible in three contexts:

1) Disobedience

This starts with Satan's revolution in the book. The ideas of Renaissance and Restoration mark that it was morally upright to stand up to a fit and righteous king and also morally incorrect to obey one who is a misfit. The God who sits in the highest of the hierarchies of Heaven is akin to that king while Satan the fallen angel who is said to be a projection of Milton himself was that rebel who recognised the flaws just like Milton recognised the government's and protested against God. The ideas of inferior and superior are conflicting in many such instances. There is even a disruption of authority between Adam and Eve when Adam gives up his authority and vice versa. Freedom for Milton was something to do with the understanding your position in the fabric of hierarchies. This eventually leads to sin, death and destruction. This shows the turmoil which happened in England during and after Restoration and is intended at analysing the caliber of King Charles as a ruler.

2) Eternal Providence

Only because of Man's disobedience did death and sin enter the world or they would have been immortal. Milton creates an argument around the free will of Man. Man exercises this and God is well aware of that Man will commit this sin giving into Satan's temptations. But if there is free will, then there should be a power to exercise it as well. This breaks the hierarchy leading to Death and Destruction.

3. Justification of God's Ways

This justifies the sacrifice of Son to death to give a chance to Adam and Eve to achieve salvation. This is a symbol of victory of good over evil which is a justification of God's way of defeating evil. That is the reason Adam describes it as Felix culpa or happy fault because of the mercy and love provided to them.

Sub-themes can be :

Sin and Innocence

Fate and Free Will

Obedience and Disobedience

Hope this helps. All the best!