The Depiction of God's Test in Paradise Lost His life had struggled with his relationship with the Church of England and the English monarchy. Milton probably viewed his difficulties, however, as tests posed by God that he must overcome to accomplish His will. Throughout his works, Milton often wrote of God's trials and tests of men, which were intended to reveal the truth about their faith and devotion. The characters in Milton's poetry and prose would overcome their obstacles and be rewarded, or they would fail in their struggles and be punished for their lack of obedience to their creator. Indeed, Milton uses the characterization of Adam and Eve in Paradise Lost, and the characterization of Lord General Fairfax and Lord General Cromwell in Sonnets XV and XVI, to reveal the message that God rewards those who act with devotion towards Him and punishes those who they ignore His will and give in to temptation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Paradise Lost, Adam and Eve are troubled by the idea that their free will might lead them to defy God and disobey his orders. When Eve has a disturbing dream in which he eats from the Tree of Knowledge even though God has forbidden him to do so, Adam is nervous and attempts to calm Eve by telling her, "in the Soul/There are many lesser Faculties that serve/Reason as the principal ” (Vll. 100-103) Eve has the ability to deny temptation and choose to follow God because He gave her that characteristic when He created her. Therefore she cannot blame God for having no choice if she gives in to temptation and goes against God's orders. Adam, however, is afraid that Eve may choose to defy God because she is not as devoted to their creator as he is: furthermore, he fears that they may experience God's wrath for her betrayal when Eve meets Satan and realizes that to gain knowledge he must eat from the forbidden tree, he initially tries to follow God's orders and states: "of this tree we cannot taste or touch; / God thus commanded and left him". Command / Only daughter of his voice; the rest we live / Law to ourselves, our Reason is our law" (IX ll. 651-654). Eve knows that Adam wants that she strictly follows God's orders and resists temptation, which is why Eve initially refuses to eat the fruit. She fears the punishment that might result if she disobeys, but ultimately she is unable to resist the temptation was given by God to disobey Him. While Eve deceives God into full understanding of what she has done, Adam follows her not because he desires to gain knowledge but because he does not want God to separate them when their sin is realized. that beautiful seductive fruit/ With a generous hand: he scruples not to eat/ Against his better knowledge, not deceived,/ But fondly overwhelmed by feminine charm.” (IX ll. 996-999), Adam eats it and awaits the punishment that he is sure will result from these acts of betrayal. Adam and Eve were given the ability to choose the right path and obey their creator, yet each of them decided prospectively that knowledge and love are more important to them than God's commandments. For their punishment, God sends the Son to Paradise: there the Son first tells Eve that her husband will now reign over her and that will have to endure a painful birth. To Adam the Son says: «Dust you are, dust you will return» (X l. 209)..

Topic > The Depiction of God's Test in Paradise Lost His life had struggled with his relationship with the Church of England and the English monarchy. Milton probably viewed his difficulties, however, as tests posed by God that he must overcome to accomplish His will. Throughout his works, Milton often wrote of God's trials and tests of men, which were intended to reveal the truth about their faith and devotion. The characters in Milton's poetry and prose would overcome their obstacles and be rewarded, or they would fail in their struggles and be punished for their lack of obedience to their creator. Indeed, Milton uses the characterization of Adam and Eve in Paradise Lost, and the characterization of Lord General Fairfax and Lord General Cromwell in Sonnets XV and XVI, to reveal the message that God rewards those who act with devotion towards Him and punishes those who they ignore His will and give in to temptation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Paradise Lost, Adam and Eve are troubled by the idea that their free will might lead them to defy God and disobey his orders. When Eve has a disturbing dream in which he eats from the Tree of Knowledge even though God has forbidden him to do so, Adam is nervous and attempts to calm Eve by telling her, "in the Soul/There are many lesser Faculties that serve/Reason as the principal ” (Vll. 100-103) Eve has the ability to deny temptation and choose to follow God because He gave her that characteristic when He created her. Therefore she cannot blame God for having no choice if she gives in to temptation and goes against God's orders. Adam, however, is afraid that Eve may choose to defy God because she is not as devoted to their creator as he is: furthermore, he fears that they may experience God's wrath for her betrayal when Eve meets Satan and realizes that to gain knowledge he must eat from the forbidden tree, he initially tries to follow God's orders and states: "of this tree we cannot taste or touch; / God thus commanded and left him". Command / Only daughter of his voice; the rest we live / Law to ourselves, our Reason is our law" (IX ll. 651-654). Eve knows that Adam wants that she strictly follows God's orders and resists temptation, which is why Eve initially refuses to eat the fruit. She fears the punishment that might result if she disobeys, but ultimately she is unable to resist the temptation was given by God to disobey Him. While Eve deceives God into full understanding of what she has done, Adam follows her not because he desires to gain knowledge but because he does not want God to separate them when their sin is realized. that beautiful seductive fruit/ With a generous hand: he scruples not to eat/ Against his better knowledge, not deceived,/ But fondly overwhelmed by feminine charm.” (IX ll. 996-999), Adam eats it and awaits the punishment that he is sure will result from these acts of betrayal. Adam and Eve were given the ability to choose the right path and obey their creator, yet each of them decided prospectively that knowledge and love are more important to them than God's commandments. For their punishment, God sends the Son to Paradise: there the Son first tells Eve that her husband will now reign over her and that will have to endure a painful birth. To Adam the Son says: «Dust you are, dust you will return» (X l. 209)..