Mystery of the forbidden fruit: Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained

Abstract

The dissertation explores the idea of the Forbidden Fruit as found in literature. This is done by analysing the literary texts of John Milton, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Milton’s representation of the theme has been explained by exploring the myth of the Fall and studying the various symbolic interpretation of the idea of the forbidden fruit. As the epics were written during late renaissance, the dissertation interprets Milton’s faithful support of the idea of the secular spirit, the importance of the earthly life. The comparisons drawn between the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and the Forbidden Fruit, demonstrate the limitation of liberty both on earth and in paradise. The forbidden fruit caused not the fall of innocence but its growth. In this thesis paper, the forbidden fruit redefines the elements of ‘faith’, ‘obedience’, ‘free will’, ‘individual responsibility’, ‘growth of innocence’ etc that have been reflected as a part of unraveling the mystery.