Introduction
John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost is a timeless classic exploring the idea of the will and ways of God. It relates the account of Adam and Eve’s fall, banishment from the Garden of Eden, and final salvation. Through his characters and themes, Milton explores and reflects his views on God’s will and ways, the nature of free will, and divine justice in a world where evil exists alongside good. He also explores how people can reconcile their desires with the will of God. Milton explores these topics to help readers understand how to live in harmony with God’s plan for them.
Analysis of Milton’s View of God’s Will or Ways
At the outset, Milton addresses his Muse, the Holy Spirit, requesting Eternal Providence to justify God’s methods to men. (Milton, 2021). Milton believed in an unlimited, everlasting God who was omnipresent, almighty, and omniscient. Book III offers an explicit argument declaring God’s justice (Milton, 2021). Milton’s ideas on God’s will or ways in the poem indicate that humanity kind fell of its own volition and that God designed and predicted the circumstances of that fall.
The most evident method Milton develops this view is God’s statement at the opening of Book III, in which the Father expresses his justice, fairness, and even mercy in light of the fall. This is also demonstrated when Raphael informs Adam that the horrors of the gunpowder conflict are the outcome of man’s fall. At the same time, Milton never puts God on trial, not even to explain his actions. Even the dissatisfied, fallen Adam realizes that God does not require an explanation for human pain.
Conclusion
The author sought to explain the paradoxes of human free will and divine forethought, as well as human pain and God’s kindness, reflecting and conveying his views to the reader in the text. Milton offers hope, suggesting that despite all setbacks, people can still be redeemed through divine grace. This timeless message continues to resonate with readers today.
Work Cited
Milton, John. Paradise Lost. West Margin Press, 2021.