paradise lost symbolism
...tently divided by religious segregation and contempt does not allow an easy answer for man’s right to agency. Allegorical Parallels in Paradise Lost In daunting and intimidating fashion, Paradise Lost entered the literary scene forever disturbing any author bold enough to draft an epic poem. By pulling information from Biblical reference, the poem courageously embraces the challenge of being measured by an untouchable standard. Recognizing that much of the Bible is allegorical, it becomes appropriate that Paradise Lost is also allegorical. Despite the similarities in the poem’s biblical creation and allegorical nature, the poem adds unique allegorical parallels where the Bible conservatively remains silent. The allegorical symbolism found in Paradise Lost is discovered on many levels, however a message offered through the allegory is the parody of the “Holy Trinity” or Godhead. God is paralleled with Satan. Similarly Christ and the Holy Spirit are paired with Sin and Death respectively. That the Son is Light and Sin is Darkness is apparent. Additionally, that the Holy Spirit is parodied with Death is also palpable. However, there is a great deal more. It seems that the readers are to draw comparisons between Satan and Sin and Adam and Eve. Robert C. Fox has offered the following commentary: The affinity of Sin for the mortals on earth recalls certain parallels between the diabolical and human levels. Just as Eve is created from the side of Adam, so Sin springs full-grown from the brow of Satan. And just as Eve’s first action after her creation is to admire the reflection of herself in a lake, so Satan first sees in Sin a more perfect image of himself. The effect of these parallels is to draw our attention to the correspondence between the respective falls from grace. The disobedience of man is followed immediately by a sequence of lust that begins with looks, proceeds to desires, and culminates in deeds. With Satan, it is the same; following his non-serviam, Satan looks on Sin, becomes enamored, and then secretly takes his joy with her. (362) Additionally, other interesting parallels between Eve and Sin occur to one while reading the text. Sin was the product of lust sprung from Satan’s head; Eve was the product of love taken from Adam’s rib, near the heart. Surely the contrast was on Milton’s mind when he had Sin address her father Satan, as “my father, thou my Author” (II. 864). Similarly, Eve addresses Adam as her “Author and Disposer” (IV. 635). However, Eve’s union was blessed; Sin’s was not. Sin according to C.S. Lewis, was the guardian of all evil; Eve was the guardian of all virtues (69). Interestingly, the idea of helplessness once begun, Sin opens the gates of Hell to permit Satan to exit: “She op’n’d, but to shut Excell’d her power” (II. 883-84). In comparison, Eve, through her disobedience in the garden, opened the world to sin and found it...