In his texts, Milton teaches that one is free to sin and suffer the resulting loss, but that loss is also part of growth, and one should repent so that new fruits can grow from the repentance. Adam and Eve ask God for forgiveness after their Fall and are given grace through Jesus’ sacrifice. But Satan is unrepentant and deflects blame, which is why he is eternally condemned to Hell.
For Milton true freedom comes in the ability to make choices and fail. In Book III of Paradise Lost God says that he made man “just and right / Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall” (Paradise Lost: Book III 98-99). He says that if man were
Not free, what proof could they have given sincere
Of true allegiance, constant faith or love,
Where only what they needs must do, appeared,
Not what they would? (Paradise Lost: Book III 103-6)
God wants man to follow Him through their own free will, not by being forced to follow Him, otherwise it’s not true devotion and love. This is consistent with Milton’s belief in free will and his advocacy for freedom. Eve echoes this argument in the Garden of Eden & Adam concedes it (Paradise Lost: Book IX pgs 531-32). Milton strongly valued reason and believed that it gave one all the tools they needed to resist temptation. Challenges make life interesting and mastering them give life meaning. If your ideas and faith are never tested, you can’t know if they are true or not.
Adam and Eve fall to Satan’s temptations in Paradise but are saved by their repentance. They first deflect blame onto each other (Paradise Lost: Book IX pgs. 551-52). But then they decide to repent, and
They forthwith to the place
Repairing where he judged them prostrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confessed
Humbly their faults, and pardon begged, with tears
Watering the ground. (Paradise Lost: Book X 1098-1102)
The Son is impressed with them and says that the fruits of repentance are
Of more pleasing savour from thy seed
Sown with contrition in his heart, than those
Which his own hand manuring all the trees
Of paradise could have produced, ere fallen
From innocence. (Paradise Lost: Book XI 26-30)
Adam and Eve learned why their sin was bad and repented while submitting to God with strong emotions, showing true faith in Him. They learned to recognize sin so they can avoid it, which is why the Son has this opinion. Adam is shown a vision of world history by Michael, up to the Crucifixion. Adam is satisfied and rejoices “that much more good thereof shall spring, / To God more glory, more good will to men / From God, and over wrath grace shall abound” (Paradise Regained: Book XII 476-78). Adam is happy that his repentance has brought him salvation and that God is giving him grace and a second chance to get into Heaven. He has freed himself from the burden of sin and guilt which is taken by Jesus in the cross. God is known for making good from evil.
In stark contrast, Satan refuses to repent and deflects blame to God, saying that it was “his strength concealed / Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall” (Paradise Lost: Book I 641-42). Satan is always in denial and blames God for supposedly causing him to fall. Satan admits he has only himself to blame (Paradise Lost: Book IV pg. 422). But even then, he still refuses to repent, because there is no way to do so “but by submission; and that word / Disdain forbids me” (Paradise Lost: Book IV 81-82). It is because of envy and resentment against God, and his fear of facing the guilt, that Satan refuses to repent. Because of that, Satan & his demons are forever falling and suffering: when they celebrate the fall of Adam and Eve they are turned into serpents and then wrecked with hunger and thirst (Paradise Lost: Book X pgs. 566-67). They see a tree and eat its apparent fruit, but “instead of fruit / Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste / With splattering noise rejected” (Paradise Lost: Book X 565-67). And this is recurring: “so oft they fell / Into the same illusion, not as man / Whom they triumphed once lapsed” (Paradise Lost: Book X 570-72). This is the key difference between Satan and man, that while man repents and triumphs over their illusions, and learn from their mistakes, Satan and the demons never repent and continue to make the same mistakes. From their evil God springs good & it backfires on them. Ultimately, the fates of Adam, Eve and Satan come from their choices.
Milton shows that with freedom of choice comes possible loss from one’s own sins. However, it is not too late to repent, and this will bring forth good fruits, while refusal to accept blame and deflection of blame to others only makes the situation worse. Paradise Lost and other Miltonian works are strong testaments to his classical liberal political beliefs including republicanism and individualism.
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