Paradise Lost (Book 10) - John Milton
/Paradise Lost (Book 10) - John Milton/
From Disobedience to Divine Judgment
Original (Line 1): Mean while the heinous and despightful act
English (Line 1): Mean while the heinous and despightful act
Original (Line 2): Of Satan done in Paradise; and how
English (Line 2): Of Satan done in Paradise; and how
Original (Line 3): He in the Serpent had perverted Eve,
English (Line 3): He in the Serpent had perverted Eve,
Original (Line 4): Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,
English (Line 4): Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,
Original (Line 5): Was known in Heaven; for what can ’scape the eye
English (Line 5): Was known in Heaven; for what can ’scape the eye
Original (Line 6): Of God All-seeing, or deceive his heart
English (Line 6): Of God All-seeing, or deceive his heart
Original (Line 7): Omniscient? Who in all things wise and just
English (Line 7): Omniscient? Who in all things wise and just
Original (Line 8): Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind
English (Line 8): Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind
Original (Line 9): Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed,
English (Line 9): Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed,
Original (Line 10): Complete to have discovered and repulsed
English (Line 10): Complete to have discovered and repulsed
Excerpt from the opening of Book 10. Full text is in the public domain.
Book 10 of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” portrays the immediate fallout from Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Once they have partaken of the forbidden fruit, the scene shifts to Heaven, where God pronounces judgment on all involved in humanity’s downfall—Satan, Adam, and Eve alike.
In this pivotal section, the punishments are distributed: the serpent is condemned to crawl on its belly, Eve is burdened with pain in childbirth and a tumultuous relationship with Adam, and Adam is condemned to labor upon a cursed ground for his sustenance. Crucially, mortal suffering and death enter the human experience. By illustrating these punishments as both just and sorrowful, Milton underscores the theological belief in divine righteousness tempered by compassion.
Satan’s triumphant return to Hell soon turns hollow, as he and his cohorts are transformed into serpents. This twist highlights that even rebellious angels cannot evade divine justice. Meanwhile, Adam and Eve, now fully aware of their guilt, experience shame, discord, and regret. Their emotional turmoil serves as a reflection on free will and the profound consequences of wrongful choices.
Ultimately, Book 10 adds a profound layer of complexity to Milton’s portrayal of the Fall, revealing that the act of sin reverberates far beyond Eden’s gates. The sorrow of Adam and Eve, paired with God’s measured but irrevocable justice, frames the human condition as a blend of responsibility, hope, and the enduring capacity for redemption.
Key points
1. Sin’s consequences affect all facets of life, altering both nature and relationships.
2. Divine justice balances punishment with a sense of sorrow for fallen humanity.
3. Adam and Eve’s newfound awareness marks the tragic cost of disobedience.
4. Even the triumphant deceiver, Satan, cannot escape the repercussions of his actions.
