Temptation In Milton's Paradise Regained

John Milton, one of the most renowned poets of the English language, dedicates great enthusiasm to the narration and exploration of the temptation theme. According to his theological belief in man's free will, Milton maintains that human beings are not mere puppets before God but can make choices when facing temptation. In this way, temptation can be used as a means to prove men's virtue, and to exercise men's will and faith. The significance of the temptation theme in Milton's literary works is perfectly demonstrated by his last three major poems, for they all elaborately treat this theme, although from different perspectives.Paradise Regained is mainly based on the Gospel story of Christ's temptation and explores deeply into this theme. Abundant criticism has from various angles probed into the implication and significance of the temptations presented in the poem. With the revelation of Christ's nature, Christ's ordained vocation, and the confrontation between Satan's sins and Christ's virtues, a better apprehension of the temptation theme in Paradise Regained may be attained. Judging from Milton's theological heresy of Antitrinitarianism and the details of the epic, the Son stands Satan's temptations with his humanity in spite of his divine nature. Repudiating Satan's temptations serves as a process for Christ to increase his awareness of his ordained vocation of prophet, king and priest. His prophetic vocation, as he confirms through the agon, is to perform as the "living oracle" and as the illuminator of the soul. Christ realizes his kingly function at hand is to build a spiritual kingdom. When confronting the last temptation, Christ reveals his courage and willingness to take up his priestly role of sacrificial death on cross. The confrontation between Satan and Christ is also the duel of sins and virtues. Satan's temptations,...