The hero of the Paradise Lost

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In Paradise Lost, the idea of a hero is not simple. A hero is usually someone brave and good. But in this poem, Milton makes it more complicated. The three main characters people talk about as heroes are Satan, Adam, and Jesus Christ.

Satan as a Tragic Hero

Satan is a strong and brave leader. He does not want to obey God. He would rather be the king of Hell than a servant in Heaven. He gives big speeches and encourages the fallen angels. At first, he seems like a powerful and exciting character.

But Satan has big problems. He is too proud and does not want to admit he was wrong. As the story goes on, he becomes bitter and angry. He wants to hurt others instead of doing something good. In the Garden of Eden, he tricks Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. He does this because he is jealous and wants revenge. By the end of the story, he is no longer strong. He is sad, small, and trapped in his own bad choices.

Satan has some traits of a hero, but he is not a good role model. His pride and selfishness lead to his downfall.

Adam as the Hero of Humanity

Adam is the first man created by God. He is kind, intelligent, and has free will. He does not fight against God like Satan. Instead, he makes a mistake because he loves Eve. He eats the forbidden fruit because he does not want to lose her. This leads to the Fall of Man, which brings pain and death into the world.

Adam’s heroism is different from Satan’s. He realizes that he has made a mistake. He feels sad and sorry. Unlike Satan, he does not stay proud and angry. He accepts responsibility and listens to God. In the end, Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden, but they still have hope. God promises that one day, humanity will be saved.

Adam’s story is about learning from mistakes. He shows that people can do wrong things but still find a way to make things better.

Jesus Christ as the True Hero

Jesus Christ is the greatest hero in Paradise Lost. He does not fight like a soldier, but he is the most important character. In Book 3, Jesus offers to save humanity. He says he will die for people’s sins so they can be forgiven.

Unlike Satan and Adam, Jesus never does anything wrong. He is completely good. His love and kindness help save the world. Even though Satan seems powerful, Jesus wins in the end. His sacrifice brings hope and forgiveness to all people. This makes him the true hero of the story.

Free Will and Heroism

Milton shows that being a hero is about making choices. Satan and Adam both make choices, but their endings are different. Satan chooses to be proud and angry, so he is punished forever. Adam chooses to admit his mistake, so he finds hope.

In old epic stories, heroes often win because of luck or help from the gods. In Paradise Lost, the characters must take responsibility for what they do. Satan refuses to learn, so he suffers. Adam learns from his mistakes, so he grows. This shows that true heroism is about making the right choices.

Conclusion

There is no simple hero in Paradise Lost. Satan looks like a hero at first, but he is selfish and cruel. Adam is weak but learns from his mistakes. Jesus is the best hero because he saves everyone with his love.

Milton’s story teaches that real heroism is about being humble, learning from mistakes, and choosing to do good. In the end, Paradise Lost is not just about falling into sin. It is about finding hope and a way back to God.


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