Paradise Lost, an epic written by English poet John Milton, details many stories of Adam and Eve, Satan, Angels, and God, in an attempt to “justify the ways of God to men”(1.26). He uses many rhetorical techniques to his advantage to enrich the text with deep significance such as rhythmic iambic pentameter, rich and descriptive language, and occasional dialectical nature. Though his complex and intricate writing, he also discusses various structures of power in his overarching narrative, some of which challenge what readers may see as the norm, typically regarding a single word: authority. His discussions on authority and the structures of power force readers to question those ideas, ultimately giving them agency and influencing them because of it.

     Within the first few lines of the poem, Milton informs readers of these structures of power to influence the audience. During a reader’s first experience with this text, they are introduced to “man’s first disobedience, and the fruit / Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste / Brought death into the world, and all our woe, / With loss of Eden”(1.1-4). A tone-setting intro, words like “disobedience” and “forbidden” infer a higher power that one is going against or not allowed to cross. As one reads further, they see that Milton himself is adhering to a structure of power, with these first few lines being an invocation to the Muses to “instruct me, for thou know’st”(1.19). These two instances showcase how Milton’s ideas revolve around this connecting idea of authority. Milton begins talking about the disobedience of man and the authority above them, then transitions to stating that as the author he has the authority of someone above him as well. This is quite the dialectal comparison. This nature of the juxtaposition challenges the reader by making them think and question their ideas, supporting a piece of Milton’s goal to impact readers with authorities.

     Once Milton moves on to describe God, he challenges the reader’s preconceived notions, impacting them on an individual level. Following his invocation of the Muses, he begins describing Satan, who ultimately talks about the “monarchy of God”(1.42) and “Him the Almighty Power”(1.44) with “his vengeful ire”(1.148). This is not a portrayal of God that many are used to; in works like the King James Bible of Genesis or other religious works and beliefs, many depict God as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, as well as able to distinguish between what’s good and what is not. Instead, Milton chooses to focus on Satan for the majority of his opening and gets his readers to almost empathize with the demon. Due to this clear objection to the contrary belief of higher power, readers are forced to question their authority, which in turn grants them the agency to question their ideas and beliefs.

     As readers venture into the third book, in a continued discussion on the fall of man, God’s description of it further impacts readers to question themselves as well as other authorities. The story of man is recounted as God states that “I formed them free, and free they must remain, / Till they enthrall themselves: I must change / Their nature, and revoke the high decree / Unchangeable, eternal, which ordained / Their freedom, they themselves ordained their fall”(3.124-128). These lines reveal that God gave humans control and saved them with freedom, but it was humans who changed their freedom by taking it away from themselves by defying and choosing the fall. This causes impact and influence within the reader. This structure of authority and power is portrayed with such dialectical nature; God is the authority due to his creation and granting of power, but in turn, humans become their own authority because they disobey and ultimately fall. This provocative thought is what eventually grants readers with their own form of agency due to taking this knowledge and questioning their lives themself.

     It is clear that Milton has a point to his inclusion of authority. Milton uses the relationship of the creator, art, and audience in these structures of power to his advantage. In all of these instances, they can apply to one's life and influence them as an individual, giving them some agency to question their own beliefs. From discussions on human disobedience and God’s view on it, everything has an impact on readers. Milton inflicts his ideas and overarching goal within his epic and gives readers a direct connection to him by interacting with his work. It is this relationship and emphasis on authority that truly gives agency to all who encounter his art.

​

 

Works Cited:

Milton, John. Paradise Lost. 1667.