Paradise Lost Lesson Plan

Eve's dream about the forbidden fruit is ostensibly a result of Satan whispering in her ear as she sleeps. What does this reveal about Eve's human capacities and the fallen angel's power of persuasion?

Milton is trying to send a message here about how the subtle tendentiousness of Satan works. As students may have already guessed – and will certainly find out later in the poem – "liberty" in Milton's Paradise Lost is all about exercising free choice while still remaining governed by Reason. It is unsurprising, then, that Satan's powers are effective when they are employed, not against Reason, but while Reason sleeps.

Why does God tell Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit...