Paradise Lost (Book 9) - John Milton
/Paradise Lost (Book 9) - John Milton/
The Serpent’s Temptation and Humanity’s Fall
Original (Line 1): No more of talk where God or Angel Guest
English (Line 1): No more of talk where God or Angel Guest
Original (Line 2): With Man, as with his friend, familiar used
English (Line 2): With Man, as with his friend, familiar used
Original (Line 3): To sit indulgent, and with him partake
English (Line 3): To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Original (Line 4): Rural repast; permitting him the while
English (Line 4): Rural repast; permitting him the while
Original (Line 5): Venial discourse unblamed: I now must change
English (Line 5): Venial discourse unblamed: I now must change
Original (Line 6): Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach
English (Line 6): Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach
Original (Line 7): Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt
English (Line 7): Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt
Original (Line 8): And disobedience: on the part of Heaven
English (Line 8): And disobedience: on the part of Heaven
Original (Line 9): Now alienated, distance and distaste
English (Line 9): Now alienated, distance and distaste
Original (Line 10): Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given
English (Line 10): Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given
Excerpt from the opening of Book 9. Full text is in the public domain.
In Book 9 of John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost,” the narrative dramatically shifts from heavenly dialogues to the pivotal scene of temptation and original sin. Here, Milton moves away from earlier moments of divine instruction toward an event fraught with deceit and tragic consequences: the fall of Adam and Eve.
The book opens with a more somber tone, indicating that discussions of celestial harmony are over. Instead, the audience is ushered into the moment when Satan, disguised as a serpent, successfully ensnares humanity’s first parents. The poem vividly illustrates Eve’s vulnerability to flattery and Adam’s devotion to Eve, culminating in their mutual disobedience. Milton portrays the subtle web of manipulation, highlighting the serpent’s cunning rhetoric and the seeds of doubt it plants in Eve’s mind.
Central to the tragedy is how Adam and Eve, hitherto living in pure obedience and unbroken communion with God, become separated by temptation. The author stresses that their moral freedom allows them both to stand and to fall, emphasizing the sanctity and fragility of free will. This moment sets in motion the consequences for all of humanity: shame, guilt, and the painful awareness of mortality. Yet Milton’s treatment remains nuanced, conveying an undercurrent of sorrow and empathy rather than mere condemnation.
Overall, Book 9 stands as the emotional fulcrum of “Paradise Lost,” uniting themes of choice, consequence, and the vulnerability inherent in humanity’s freedom. This turning point casts a long shadow over the rest of the poem, shaping its central message on the complexity of obedience, the power of temptation, and the immeasurable cost of sin.
Key points
1. Free will carries both the power to obey and the risk to fall.
2. Subtle temptation can unravel even the purest intentions.
3. Love and devotion can, at times, blind us to danger.
4. The consequences of a single act of disobedience can be far-reaching.