The Falls of Satan, Eve, and Adam in John Milton's Paradise Lost: A Study in Insincerity

This article examines the falls of Satan, Eve, and Adam in Milton's Paradise Lost, arguing that these characters demonstrate neither sincere theology nor genuinely sincere behavior in their initial transgressions and continued unrepentant behavior. In analyzing matters of sincerity concerning these characters, this article interacts with numerous voices in the history of Paradise Lost criticism, particularly those critics who, advocating a Romantic understanding of sincerity against traditional Christianity, have defended the decisions of Satan, Eve, and Adam to transgress against God's commands. This article also examines Adam and Eve's sincere repentance later in Milton's epic.