Abstract
Sin is a concept mainly viewed from a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton brought a further understanding of human nature and one’s sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academic understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments. Still, for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships for selfish gains. Sin is also synonymous with the term criminality, the act of committing immoral or deviant acts. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, and Eve, fell from grace because all three damaged their relationship with God for selfish reasons which they justified as having higher importance than obeying God. In this case, it is determined that they’ve committed a deviant act against God. These selfish reasons usually stem from their sense of inferiority in God’s world. Connecting Paradise Lost to the real world, it is known that a lot of individuals suffer from inferiority complexes. An inferiority complex is a term describing individuals who feel that they have no worth or control in life. These individuals try to bring control back to their lives by committing what’s perceived as sinful or deviant acts. In Paradise Lost, Adam, Eve, and Satan are portrayed as engaging in a power struggle in their lives, committing a sin that they rationalize as essential to breaking free from their limited free will. These descriptions will enhance comprehension of why some people are more prone to commit wrongful acts than others and provide insight into how individuals can resist those negative impulses. By analyzing Paradise Lost and integrating Freudian theories of original sin and the dark triad of personality with evolutionary psychology, human sense of inferiority can be interpreted as a trigger to commit what may be perceived as sinful or criminal behavior.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Marlisa Santos
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-2-2025 2:15 PM
End Date
4-3-2025 12:00 AM
Paradise Lost and Character Motivation: Sinful Behavior or Inferiority Complex?
Alvin Sherman Library
Sin is a concept mainly viewed from a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton brought a further understanding of human nature and one’s sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academic understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments. Still, for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships for selfish gains. Sin is also synonymous with the term criminality, the act of committing immoral or deviant acts. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, and Eve, fell from grace because all three damaged their relationship with God for selfish reasons which they justified as having higher importance than obeying God. In this case, it is determined that they’ve committed a deviant act against God. These selfish reasons usually stem from their sense of inferiority in God’s world. Connecting Paradise Lost to the real world, it is known that a lot of individuals suffer from inferiority complexes. An inferiority complex is a term describing individuals who feel that they have no worth or control in life. These individuals try to bring control back to their lives by committing what’s perceived as sinful or deviant acts. In Paradise Lost, Adam, Eve, and Satan are portrayed as engaging in a power struggle in their lives, committing a sin that they rationalize as essential to breaking free from their limited free will. These descriptions will enhance comprehension of why some people are more prone to commit wrongful acts than others and provide insight into how individuals can resist those negative impulses. By analyzing Paradise Lost and integrating Freudian theories of original sin and the dark triad of personality with evolutionary psychology, human sense of inferiority can be interpreted as a trigger to commit what may be perceived as sinful or criminal behavior.
