John Milton was born on December 9, 1608 in London. Milton very well combines the movement of the Renaissance and the Reformation in his great literary works. Some of his literary contributions are “Ode to the Morning of the Nativity of Christ”, “Paradise Lost”, “L’Allegro” and “II Penseroso” (1633), “Comus” (1634), “Lycidus” (1637) , “Paradise Regained”, “Samson’s Agonists”.
Milton’s “Paradise Lost” is a great epic. It is one of the greatest English epics of all time. Highlight the strong intellectual and creative energy of the poet. “Paradise Lost” is mainly about God, Satan, Adam, Eve, the battle for heaven between God and Satan, the creation of our first man and woman: Adam and Eve, their happy hours in the Garden of Eden.
We get a very vivid and accurate description of the Garden of Eden in Book 4 of “Paradise Lost”. Milton shows very well the beauties of Paradise. We come to know that Milton’s Garden of Eden and the Earthly Paradise are planted by Almighty God in the East of Eden. He writes:
“Eden extended her line
From Auran east to the royal city
of great Seleucia, built by the Greek kings,
Or where the children of Eden long before
He lived in Telessar”
Every object in the Garden of Eden is pleasing, fresh and natural. Each tree of Eden is full of fruits and flowers. There are very nice ones. We know the TREE of KNOWLEDGE and the TREE OF LIFE. Different types of trees like cedar, pine and fir create a very nice image. These trees form a natural boundary for the Garden of Eden. Each and every tree is laden with fruit. All the trees in the Garden bear fruits and flowers that shine brightly when the sun’s rays fall on them.
The trees of the Garden are full of really tasty fruits and full of richness. These trees are not artificially planted. They are full of riches and natural qualities. Eden is full of natural treasures. There are meadows, clearings, valleys, where cattle graze freely and happily. All nature has given all are treasures to adorn Paradise. There are various flowers of different colors and smells. Adam and Eve often rest in the shaded caves of the Garden.
Even the caves are decorated with fruit trees and vines. The waterfalls provide a soft, whispering sound. The water is clear as a mirror. The birds sing very sweetly from the trees. The air of Paradise is pure and full of sweet fragrance. In the lap of such a beautiful nature, the two most beautiful creations of God are nurturing their relationship. They are not aware of all the strange plans of Satan.
Milton has given a wide description of the world of flora and fauna. The entire world of flora contributed to the decoration of Paradise. There are different species of roses and jasmine looming here and there in the Garden. These flowers are of different smell and color. Crocuses, hyacinths decorate the floor of the Garden. Even the animal kingdom is heavily described by Milton. There are bears, tigers, elephants and other species of animals. All in all, it is very difficult to describe such a pleasant atmosphere.
The sky, the earth, the horizon, the river, the waterfall are full of sweet smell and sound. It is really difficult to find the counterpart of a great garden like Garden of Eden. The sounds of the bird are a delight for the ears of the human being. The sunrises and sunsets of the Garden are really one of the most sought after and beautiful settings.
Thus, Milton gives us very precisely the detailed description of the Garden of Eden. Milton is England’s second great poet, second only to Shakespeare in bringing nature in words and sentences before readers. Milton is the nature lover. In Book 4 he narrates a frowning description of nature and also the charms of Adam and Eve. Milton always deals with majestic and majestic subjects. Milton’s concepts are lofty and grandiose. “Paradise Lost” is born from his pure imaginative mind. It combines modern and ancient and mythological themes, incidents and characters that are larger than life.