Adam's Heroism in Paradise Lost

Adam's Heroism in Paradise Lost

This paper aims to examine the controversial nature of heroism in Paradise Lost. Milton created structural heroes such as Adam and Satan as well as thematic heroes such as God and Christ in the 17th-century Christian framework. However, others are not quite defensible as heroes except for Adam who maintains the most prominent heroic stature and continues to transform his heroic nature, depending on the thematic needs. Adam is put to the test of moral paradox between love and obedience to God. Adam's conscious decision to fix his destiny with the fallen Eve is an existential choice to be the maker of his fate. Given reason and free will, he chooses his spiritual death for the supreme value of his love. In a different perspective, Adam's heroic nature rises to the level of Christ in close parallel with the divine sacrifice for the lost soul. But towards the end of the poem, the existential hero turns into a tragic hero who will be redeemed only by divine providence.