Paradise Lost, Book 7

Back to: Paradise Lost Summary by John Milton

“Descend from Heav’n Urania, by that name
If rightly thou art call’d, whose Voice divine
Following, above th’ Olympian Hill I soare,”

The seventh book of Paradise Lost by John Milton continues the conversation between Raphael and Adam where the angel informs the human about the creation of Earth and mankind by God. Revolving around the fundamental concept of creation of the world, the poem brings forth the ancient knowledge and wisdom behind the formation of another creature by God.

  • Critical Summary

Opening with Milton’s invocation to the muse Urania for guidance and strength, the poem once again highlights the staunch beliefs of the poet in divinity. After describing Satan’s rebellion and his descent to Hell, Raphael talks about the creation of Earth and human beings by God on Adam’s request.

The omnipotent and omniscient God, disappointed by angels’ rebellion, decides to create another species to obey Him. For this purpose, He orders His Son to create Earth which is hung under the Heaven and will be its part.

The mankind is to rule the Heaven and Earth forever under God’s dominion by obeying Him in all circumstances. God only puts one condition on Adam and Eve that they will never eat the Fruit of the Forbidden Tree which provides knowledge of good and evil. With this, God creates Earth with the help of His Son in six days and asks Adam to rule the Eden and Earth with obedience, humility, and worship.

The condition laid by God on Adam and Eve regarding the Tree of Knowledge in Heaven parallels to the worldly trials and tribulations an individual face in their life. The only way to success and paradise is to get through these trials with fortitude, resilience, and obedience to God by avoiding and fighting the evil temptations.

“In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe
This Universe, and all created things:
One foot he center’d, and the other turn’d
Round through the vast profunditie obscure,

And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,
This be thy just Circumference, O World.
Thus God the Heav’n created, thus the Earth,
Matter unform’d and void:”

  • Themes

The book deals with the significant theme of the creation of the world. Informing the readers about the formation of Earth and Adam and Eve by God and His Son, Milton resolves the age-old query of mankind to know about its creation and coming on Earth. Moreover, this theme gives guidance to human beings about their purpose and life on the planet Earth.

“Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light
Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure
Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East
To journie through the airie gloom began,”

  • Diction

Milton uses stylised language, bombastic phrases and lofty diction in the poem to explain to his readers the concept of creation of humankind and the reasons behind it. The use of difficult vocabulary enhances the worth of the primitive yet fundamental issues discussed by Milton in Paradise Lost

  • Conclusion

Milton’s Paradise Lost Book 7 highlights the core issue of Man’s Creation bringing to light the significance of human life on Earth. For this reason, the book is widely-read and acclaimed by all strata of the society.

“Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,
Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal’d
Divine interpreter, by favour sent
Down from the Empyrean to forewarne
Us timely of what might else have bin our loss,

Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:
For which to the infinitly Good we owe
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receave with solemne purpose to observe
Immutably his sovran will, the end
Of what we are.”

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