Paradise Lost Comes to an End

As Paradise Lost came to an end many of its readers thought that the conclusion seemed a bit anti-climactic.  This may be because it lacked the creative edge the rest of the poem possessed. 

“...The gate

With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms.

Some natural tears they dropped but wiped them soon.

The world was all before them, where to choose

Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.

They hand in hand with wand’ring steps and slow

Through Eden took their solitary way,” (12. 643-649).

            Adam and Eve simply left the gates of Eden after Michael tells them of their future and what is expected of them.  The reader would have anticipated a similar banishment to that of the angels being thrown down from Heaven into Hell.  The reader I feel had also hoped to see Adam and Eve’s reactions to their new world. 

            I would have liked to see the poem end a little less generically by including a sudden twist or previously unseen insight or side of Adam and Eve as Milton’s used so often through out any of his previous descriptions of them.  I would have liked to see more of the changes in their characters such as Eves new found sense of responsibility and Adam’s lack there of.  I would have been pleased with seeing some of Eve’s independent side or Adam’s commitment (or now lack of commitment) to Eve. 

            All in all I can see the difficulty in bringing this poem to an en since we are here today and know that it can only end one way.  I understand that there is a sequel to the poem and would be curious to know how this text addressed the issue of Adam and Eve’s failing marriage or their struggle with their new form of worship of God, knowing that they have created the rest of the human race and we still believe in God today so they must have gotten past this issue some how.  -Megan