Paradise Lost · Chapter
Book III explained
God the Father, seated on His throne, observes Satan flying toward the newly created world and foretells the success of Satan in tempting mankind.
What happens
God the Father, seated on His throne, observes Satan flying toward the newly created world and foretells the success of Satan in tempting mankind. He declares that He created Man free and able to resist, thus justifying His own justice. The Son of God offers Himself as a ransom for Man's sin, and the Father accepts, ordaining the incarnation and exaltation of the Son. Meanwhile, Satan lands on the outermost orb of the world, passes through the Limbo of Vanity, and reaches the gate of Heaven. He then transforms into a lesser angel and deceives Uriel into revealing the location of Man's habitation, before alighting on Mount Niphates.
Themes in this chapter
Free Will and Predestination
God emphasizes that Man was created free and able to resist, yet His foreknowledge and grace determine the path of redemption.
Redemption and Grace
The Son's voluntary offer to ransom Man highlights the theme of grace overcoming sin and death.
Obedience and Disobedience
Man's disobedience is contrasted with the Son's perfect obedience in offering Himself as a sacrifice.
Characters to notice
- God the Father
Sees Satan's approach, foretells Man's fall, and declares His plan of redemption through the Son.
- Michael
Referred to as the Son of God, who offers Himself as a ransom for Man and is exalted by the Father.
- Satan
Flies toward the new world, lands on the outermost orb, and deceives Uriel to find Man's dwelling.
- Uriel
Regent of the Sun, deceived by Satan disguised as a lesser angel, and directs him to Paradise.
- Adam
Mentioned as the first man whose fall necessitates redemption through the Son.
- Eve
Implied as part of mankind that will be tempted and fall.
Key passages
“Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven first-born!”
Greetings, sacred Light, first creation of Heaven!
Milton invokes light as a divine source, contrasting his physical blindness with spiritual illumination.
“Behold me, then: me for him, life for life, I offer; on me let thine anger fall;”
Look at me: I offer myself in exchange for him, life for life; let your anger fall on me.
The Son volunteers to take on human nature and die as a ransom for mankind.
“So Heavenly love shall outdo Hellish hate, Giving to death, and dying to redeem,”
Thus divine love will surpass demonic hatred, by surrendering to death and dying in order to redeem.
God the Father explains that the Son's sacrifice will overcome Satan's malice.