Paradise Lost

Satan is the first character introduced in Paradise Lost. In Hell, he discovers the changed state of the fallen angels and resolves to continue his war against Heaven by other means. 

The fallen angels gather and hear proposals for how they might best pervert God’s judgment against them and corrupt His happiness. They settle on a plan to seduce man into disobedience. 

God observes Satan escaping Hell and journeying toward Paradise. He foretells that Satan will succeed in tempting man. Christ volunteers to take the punishment of death so that man might be reconciled to God. 

Adam and Eve enjoy their blissful labors cultivating God’s creation while Satan watches them, filled with envy and hate. He learns that God’s sole command to Adam and Eve was not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. 

God sends Raphael to warn Adam of the danger they face. He reminds Adam that God created man and angels alike sufficient to stand but free to fall.

Adam successfully entreats Raphael to tell the history of Heaven and how Satan and his legions fell. Raphael agrees to tell, but also cautions Adam not to seek knowledge beyond his station. 

Despite the warnings, Eve is seduced by the Serpent to eat of the fruit. Adam chooses to partake as well, lest he survive but lose his wife. 

Adam and Eve face the full weight of knowing good and evil. After their punishment is pronounced, they acknowledge their fault and repent.

Although man has fallen, God promises to work good through it. Adam is shown the scriptural history to come and wonders at the good God can bring from evil.