A.The Story 5 B.Theme and Characterization The poem,on the surface,was "to justify the ways of God to man",i.e.to preach submission to the Almighty.But under the surface,the main idea of the poem is the heroic revolt against God's authority In the poem God is no better than a selfish despot.It has been 5 noted by many critics that the picture of God surrounded by his angels resembles the court of an absolute monarch.While the rebel Satan who rises against God and,though defeated,still seeks for revenge.Satan and his followers who freely discuss all issues in 5” council bear close resemblance to a republican Parliament.This epic expresses the reactionary forces of his time and shows passionate appeal for freedom. The theme is also about the fall of Men:man's disobedience and 5 the loss of Paradise.But having done it,Adam and Eve get freedom They embody Milton's belief in the powers of man.Their craving for knowledge denied them by God,as Milton stresses,adds a particular significance to their character.It is this longing for knowledge that opens before mankind a wide road to an intelligent and active life What makes Paradise Lost a powerful poem is precisely the 5 way in which the Biblical past is pulled into the present in an A. The Story B. Theme and Characterization The poem, on the surface, was "to justify the ways of God to man", i. e. to preach submission to the Almighty. But under the surface, the main idea of the poem is the heroic revolt against God's authority. In the poem God is no better than a selfish despot. It has been noted by many critics that the picture of God surrounded by his angels resembles the court of an absolute monarch. While the rebel Satan who rises against God and, though defeated, still seeks for revenge. Satan and his followers who freely discuss all issues in council bear close resemblance to a republican Parliament. This epic expresses the reactionary forces of his time and shows passionate appeal for freedom. The theme is also about the fall of Men: man’s disobedience and the loss of Paradise. But having done it, Adam and Eve get freedom. They embody Milton's belief in the powers of man. Their craving for knowledge denied them by God, as Milton stresses, adds a particular significance to their character. It is this longing for knowledge that opens before mankind a wide road to an intelligent and active life. What makes Paradise Lost a powerful poem is precisely the way in which the Biblical past is pulled into the present in an 5’ 5’ 5’ 5’ 5’ 5’