Intuition vs. Common Sense

Milton continuously wrestles with the notion of "faith" throughout his poem. It must be noted that in Paradise Lost , faith is represented by a system of merit; merit can be earned gradually or achieved through birthright (such as with the son), but must be continually up-kept. Throughout his poem, Milton uses the idea of merit to justify the importance of faith in a God we cannot possibly understand (1.26). A character’s merit as a hero is equal to the amount of faith they display (It is for this reason that we can justify the hero of the poem to be the Son, as he is the only character to show unquestioning faith). Milton’s idea of heroism is also solitary, the act of the individual who, with faith alone, must stand against the majority opinion. Over and over again in Milton’s work the words “hero,” “merit” and “faith” are linked.

The problem arises, however, with the consideration of the antiheros, and the characteristics that define them as such. It seems that the biggest sin that could be committed is that of the obtainment of "knowledge." Therefore, if faith defines heroism, then its opposite must be this knowledge. Satan's education and superior thinking are what lead to his downfall; the expulsion from heaven. Adam's and Eve's only reason to obey God is their faith; their knowledge, too, is what earns their dismissal from paradise. This leads the reader to ask the question, however, of "why is it that knowledge is so disdained?" It would seem then that the only way to regain paradise would be to take up faith, and reject education.

It is for this reason that the reader must now question God's reasoning for this (Sinning erewhile), and wonder why it is that Milton's God so despises anything other than the intuition derived from faith. What would happen if we learned too much? Is it that God doesn't want us to find out his power is not as great as we think? Will we learn of the "Matrix?"

The answer is provided through the story of the creation, and the fact that Milton's reader is given four different versions of it. These varying stories all rely on faith to establish their validity. Looking past faith, however, and applying knowledge (given to us by Milton) we are meant to see that God is not the "creator" of man, but is rather the one that awakens the conception of the divine within man.