The Central Character in Paradise Lost (Research Paper Sample)

The Central Character in Paradise Lost
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There are several characters in the poem "Paradise Lost" by John Milton. The narrator, a third person is not the central character in my view but God, Adam and Eve are. Even though the narrator manipulates various characters in a manner likely to suggest that he is the central character as he has total influence on the poem’s characterization, this is not the case. Research shows that the narrator of ‘Paradise Lost’ is a third person who is omniscient but not the central character by any means. This clearly implies that the narrator is not a character in the poem by any means like God, Adam or Eve. The narrator is just an external observer that has some influence over and enters in all characters’ thoughts within the flow of the story. He (Milton) does this in various instances, like when he tells us what Satan is thinking about, or what Adam really feels (John, 2000).Due to the fact that the narrator is not a character in the story by any means, he has the ability to be in several places at a go. For instance, in Book 9, he makes the reader know what Eve does, then shifts all of a sudden to tell us what Adam does. This makes the presenter to be portrayed as a puppeteer rather than a character, not even a central character. However, he knows the entire story and knows the appropriate manner in which to present it. This makes him to sit back and give his readers information according to how he sees fit and most appropriate (Abrahm & Stephen, 2000).
At various points in the poem, it is made clear that John Milton, the poet is definitely the narrator who is the third person. At several instances throughout the poem, he makes interjections and wishes that things would turn out to be different. His reference to his blindness in Book 3 beginning and English politics in Book 9 beginning also supports the argument that he is not the main character. In addition, he also inserts references to a poem of his own and how it is related to previous literature that is evident in Book 1. John Milton is the narrator of the poem according to research for all purposes and intents, a blind guy who used to live in the 1600s, only that he does not a like to talk about himself at all the times which makes it easy to forget. This further makes him not the outright central character in the poem. Some readers argue that Satan also qualifies to be a central character in the poem due to the fact that he is a hero or the story’s protagonist. In Anderson (2000), he tries hard enough to overcome his own weaknesses and doubts and his goal of corrupting humankind. Due to the evil nature of this goal, Adam And Eve are portrayed as the moral heroes towards the end of the story as they assist to kick start the slow redemption process of humankind and salvation as well. This qualifies both characters to be categorized as central characters. Satan would have been referred to as a main character but is far from this as he is not an object of admiration as most poem and story heroes are. It also does not make sense for readers to hold celebrations over or emulate his character as it would have been the case with true heroes. However, there are several other qualities that are intriguing to Satan’s character that make him relevant and very intriguing to readers. What makes Satan a fascinating character as portrayed by Satan is how he is portrayed as a subtle and extremely complex character. Milton, the poet would have encountered various difficulties suppose he would have tried to perfect characters that are infallible such as God the Father, God the Son, and the angles as interesting when reading about as other characters that are flawed such as Adam, Eve and Satan. This automatically qualifies the characters to be the central one contrary to the misconception that the narrator is main character. In addition, the figure portrayed is a grand and majestic on, which as it appears is not afraid of being eternally damned, and uncowed by Death, chaos and other terrifying figures. This shows a hidden superiority in the manner in which these characters perceive other natural phenomena that seem terrifying to humankind. Alongside characterization skills and other stylistic devices used in the poem, these characters are made the main characters (Lack, 2007).
Adam, another central character alongside Eve and God is portrayed as a intelligent, strong and rational which makes him a character that every reader admires, qualifying him to be relevant to the readers and thus a central figure in the poem. He has another relationship with God, a supernatural being with divine powers that is remarkable. Before the fall, he is as perfect as a human being should be. His capacity to reason is enormous compared to other minor characters and has the ability to understand the ideas that are most sophisticated instantly. His ability to hold a conversation with Raphael as a near- equal and understand stories by Raphael readily makes him an outstanding character. However, upon his fall his conversation with Michael at the period of his vision has a significance of one sidedness. Also, his doubt of self and anger after the fall showed his new ability to be indulged in attitudes that are rash and irrational. His loss of pure reason and intellect came up as a result of the fall. Eve, Adam’s mate is inferior to Adam, though slightly. Ibrahim (2014) argues that the only way she surpasses Adam in the main characters category is through her beauty. Her falling in love with her own image upon seeing her reflection in a water body complements her being a main character. Irony has it that what her greatest asset produces is her most serious weakness. That is all vanity. Her interaction with Satan, another main character compliments her godliness and beauty through which he persuades him easi...