1. Unfallen Marriage and the Fallen Imagination in Paradise Lost Michelle Anstett

2. Anderson’s thesis “But the full nature of the bond between Adam and Eve only emerges when we place their relationship in the context of the poem’s rich sense of place. Unfallen marriage is shaped by Milton’s decision concerning the relative status of the three ‘geographical’ settings of the poem – Hell, Heaven, and Paradise – and by Milton’s sense of the extent to which each of these settings requires a special metaphorical machinery to make it accessible to his reader’s understanding” (126-7) “But the full nature of the bond between Adam and Eve only emerges when we place their relationship in the context of the poem’s rich sense of place. Unfallen marriage is shaped by Milton’s decision concerning the relative status of the three ‘geographical’ settings of the poem – Hell, Heaven, and Paradise – and by Milton’s sense of the extent to which each of these settings requires a special metaphorical machinery to make it accessible to his reader’s understanding” (126-7)

3. How Milton’s poetic world is organized Hell – most literal Hell – most literal Heaven – more figurative than Hell but less complex than Paradise Heaven – more figurative than Hell but less complex than Paradise Paradise – lacks both physical groundedness of Hell and the organization of Heaven Paradise – lacks both physical groundedness of Hell and the organization of Heaven

4. Milton’s Hell Physicality of Hell is “simply reported on rather than imitated or represented by images that accommodate it to us” (128) Physicality of Hell is “simply reported on rather than imitated or represented by images that accommodate it to us” (128) Just get “thrown in” Just get “thrown in” Landscape solidly rooted in the physicality of Earth Landscape solidly rooted in the physicality of Earth Offers all things of Earth which seem good, but have become corrupted Offers all things of Earth which seem good, but have become corrupted

5. Milton’s Heaven Still contains some physical description, but unable to discern the boundaries Still contains some physical description, but unable to discern the boundaries Contains a strict, military hierarchy – God  Son  Archangels  Other angels Contains a strict, military hierarchy – God  Son  Archangels  Other angels

6. Milton’s Paradise Takes up the smallest amount of space Takes up the smallest amount of space Represents the pre-fall state of man in a physical form, as it shows the union of man with God Represents the pre-fall state of man in a physical form, as it shows the union of man with God Descriptions are physical, but so deeply rooted in spirituality that they are made more ethereal Descriptions are physical, but so deeply rooted in spirituality that they are made more ethereal

7. Defense of Paradise Paradise is surrounded by high, seemingly impenetrable walls and guarded by angels, but to no avail. Paradise is surrounded by high, seemingly impenetrable walls and guarded by angels, but to no avail. Shows that the military organization of Heaven does not work in Paradise. Shows that the military organization of Heaven does not work in Paradise. Satan doesn’t realize the walls of Paradise were created to be easy for him to penetrate. Satan doesn’t realize the walls of Paradise were created to be easy for him to penetrate.

8. Relationships in Paradise, before the fall God and Adam God and Adam –God assumes the role of both father and mother in the creation of Adam –Conversations between Adam and God mirror the “meet and happy conversation” necessary in a happy marriage in DDD –God becomes the midwife to Adam’s parent in the birth of Eve

9. Relationships in Paradise, before the fall, contd. Adam and Eve Adam and Eve –More figurative than the union of Satan and Sin, but more literal than that of God and the Son –Anderson sees a lack of sexual hierarchy in prelapsarian Paradise, much like there is no hierarchy of power Adam and Eve share duties and are on a relatively even sexual footing Adam and Eve share duties and are on a relatively even sexual footing

10. Relationships in Paradise, after the fall God and man God and man –Adam immediately blames Eve for the fall, putting him in the role of child –Eve allies herself more closely with the tempter, taking on a more adult, mature role –God takes on more of the role of stern parent after the fall

11. Relationships in Paradise, after the fall, contd. Adam and Eve Adam and Eve –Become sexually exploitative in the face of a created sexual hierarchy –Paradise takes on the ability of maintaining hierarchies found in both Heaven and Hell

12. Summary Paradise is obviously the desirable place to be, but it is only desirable prior to the fall. Paradise is obviously the desirable place to be, but it is only desirable prior to the fall. Hell is the easiest to understand because it is most literal. Hell is the easiest to understand because it is most literal. Heaven can still be understood, but there are still some figurative representations in its description. Heaven can still be understood, but there are still some figurative representations in its description.

13. Work Cited Anderson, Douglas. “Unfallen Marriage and the Fallen Imagination in Paradise Lost.” Studies in English Literature, 1500- 1900 26.1 (Winter 1986): 125-144. JSTOR. Monmouth College Lib., Monmouth. 2 April 2007. Anderson, Douglas. “Unfallen Marriage and the Fallen Imagination in Paradise Lost.” Studies in English Literature, 1500- 1900 26.1 (Winter 1986): 125-144. JSTOR. Monmouth College Lib., Monmouth. 2 April 2007.