Character guide

Adam

major

Also known as So Adam, Adam aught

First man, central character who falls from grace through temptation.

Eve

major

Also known as fair Eve

First woman, tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit.

Satan

major

Also known as the Arch-Fiend, the Fiend, The Fiend, the guileful Tempter, The Tempter, Lucifer

Fallen angel who rebels against God and tempts humanity.

God the Father

major

Also known as The Eternal, The incensed Father, Father, the Most High Eternal Father, the Almighty, the Almighty Father, The Almighty

Omnipotent creator and ruler of Heaven, who judges the fallen angels.

Michael

supporting

Also known as Gabriel, The great Messiah, Messiah, their King Messiah

Archangel who leads Heaven's armies against Satan and later expels Adam and Eve.

Death

supporting

Also known as Sin and Death, Sin

Allegorical figure born from Satan, who opens the gates of Hell.

Raphael

supporting

Archangel sent to warn Adam and Eve about Satan's impending temptation.

Uriel

minor

Also known as Archangel, The Archangel Uriel, the false Archangel, the Archangel

Archangel who guards the sun and is deceived by Satan in disguise.

The Serpent

supporting

Also known as Serpent, The guilty Serpent, The adversary Serpent, the wily Adder

Animal form used by Satan to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Abdiel

minor

Also known as the Seraph Abdiel, Abdiel stern, Seraph, the Seraphim Abdiel, Seraphim

Loyal seraph who defies Satan's rebellion and returns to God's side.

Beelzebub

minor

Fallen angel and second-in-command to Satan in Pandemonium.

Moloch

minor

Fallen angel who advocates for open war against Heaven in Hell's council.

Belial

minor

Fallen angel who counsels inaction and deceit in Hell's parliament.

Mammon

minor

Fallen angel who suggests building Pandemonium rather than fighting Heaven.

Zephon

minor

Angel who guards Paradise and confronts Satan in disguise.

Chaos

minor

Personification of primordial disorder who rules the realm between Heaven and Hell.

Sin

minor

Allegorical figure born from Satan's head, keeper of Hell's gates.

Thammuz

minor

Pagan deity mentioned among the fallen angels in Hell's catalogue.

Asmodeus

minor

Fallen angel and demon mentioned among the rebellious spirits.

Peor

minor

Pagan deity referenced among the fallen angels in Hell's muster.

Jove

minor

Also known as So Jove, Ammonian Jove

Pagan god compared to Satan in Milton's epic similes.

Hermes

minor

Also known as Volatile Hermes

Messenger god referenced in classical allusions within the poem.

Titan

minor

Primordial deity mentioned in mythological comparisons.