JD Hunnicutt 04/24/2013 Defining Mans Freedom in Paradise Lost and Utopia

The nature of the freedom of mankind is a theme explored throughout many corpuses of literature. The essence of how this freedom becomes manifested, and how it is utilized, is a common threaded theme in both Miltons Paradise Lost and Thomas Mores Utopia. Both authors use fictional lands to create boundaries to which freedom can be tested by individual beings. By showing how individuals express various levels of freedom of movement and freedom of will, the essence of what freedom is to mankind in these two works is showcased and defined.

Freedom of Movement Throughout the corpus of Miltons Paradise Lost, the concept of freedom is explored in various ways. One of the most telling ways is through the levels of freedom regarding movement between angelic beings and mortals. From Book IV through Book IX, spiritual beings are depicted traveling, either from Heaven or Hell, to and from the Garden while Adam and Eve remain constantly there. In Book IV, Satan enters through the gate that looked east (Milton 425), only to be cast out by Gabriel and return again in Book IX (Milton 525). Raphael and the Son come and go as they please, but Adam and Eve remain tied to the physical state of the Garden. Uriel also showcases the ability to move freely from one realm to another. Miltons use of this free movement by spiritual beings separates them from the mortal Adam and Eve. By

HUNNICUTT 2 separating the ability to freely move, Milton also separates the natural abilities of Adam and Eve from spiritual poweress. It is in this distinction of abilities that draws the intrigue of Satan. As mentioned, Satan freely moves in and out of the Garden, albeit secretly, as to avoid the attention of Heaven. As Satan first observes the animals of Eden, as well as Adam and Eve from:

this Assyrian garden, where the fiend Saw undelighted all delight, all kind Of living creature new to sight and strange: Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, (Book IV lines 285-288)

he recognizes the difference between himself and the creatures God has created to inhabit Eden. Although Adam and Eve are noble, they are naturally bound by the parameter and gates of Eden. The fact that the Garden contains a solid gate to which Adam and Eve have no personal control of passage to and from cements the lack of the freedom of movement. It is Satans goal to exploit this lack of freedom in order to conquer the guardians of Eden. The devious quality of this becomes apparent in Book IX, when Eve suggests that the two divide our labours so that they may accomplish them more quickly (Milton 529). As the couple sleeps at night, God has the Garden grow to its state before the previous days labors in order to insure their eternal servitude. This servitude to labor restricts their freedom of movement, as they are tied to the land they serve. The labor is continuous and therefore binding. The concept of unproductive and unending labor becomes a torment utilized by God for control of movement, not a delight for enjoying paradise and the freedom it could provide otherwise. Satan disguised himself and associated with

HUNNICUTT 3 the animals of the Garden in order to study humankind. One of the aspects of this study is the observation of freedom, or the lack thereof. Evil was not destined to enjoy unchallenged freedom with man (Boggs 280). Here again, the freedom of movement is a separation between Satan, the angels, and the mortal beings of Eden. Separation by movement is also explored by Thomas More in Utopia. The land itself is isolated from all other lands, making it nearly impossible to find. Raphael Hythloday is one of the few non-Utopians to land and exit the island nation. His freedom of movement mirrors the angelic freedom of movement in the Garden. As an outsider, he travels to and from Utopia, as well as throughout the island nation. The Utopians, however, are constricted in their freedom of movement. The isolation and the fact the land is an island nation creates physical barriers that separate Utopia itself, as well as the individual cities of which the nation is comprised. Travel between cities is regulated by authority, much in the same way Adam and Eves movements are restricted by God. Once a year, each of the fifty-four cities sends delegates to the capital city of Amaurot (Norton 599). Thomas More takes great care in establishing and describing the limitations of travel, or movement, throughout the land. He goes on to limit the movement of not only the citizens, but the exchange of goods. The essence of freedom is limited by the social order. In Eden, this same freedom is limited by the boundaries and gates of the Garden. Both worlds are contained by physical barriers that some may cross and others cannot. The Utopians and Adam and Eves lack of freedom of movement underscores their freedom of ultimate will. Whereas angelic beings move throughout their realms, they are inherently not free to do this under their own will. The archangels only descend and enter the Garden under the orders of God. Hythloday expresses his freedom to travel, but he remains

HUNNICUTT 4 dependent on the boat in order to achieve freedom of movement (Kessler 209). Adam and Eve, still bound by the Garden in the freedom of movement, nevertheless have freedom of will. This freedom of will is what Satan ultimately discovers from his observations. The citizens of the cities of Utopia have freedom of will but like Edens Tree of Knowledge, there remains an underlining control of this freedom by the power of authority.

Freedom of Will

Adam and Eves freedom of will, despite the absence of the freedom of movement, is a defining aspect of the essence of freedom by Milton. The creation and utilization of the Garden is Miltons incorporation of freedom. The Garden of Eden is created by Milton as a device to both control Adam and Eves movement, as well as giving them the freedom of choice through the Tree of Knowledge. In Book IV, Adam describes This one, this easy charge as The only sign of obedience that they have to follow (Milton 431). Milton continues to express that this is the One easy prohibition only five lines later. By placing this one order on Adam and Eve, the inherently now have the freedom of will to follow the law or not. The choice they make of eating from the Tree of Knowledge separates Miltons viewpoint on mankinds freedom of will and Mores view of the freedom of choice by the Utopians. In all aspects of the social order of Utopia, the citizens are bound by laws and authority. To not adhere to these laws is to face persecution or expulsion from society. Utopians must receive permission to travel throughout their own district, or to travel from one city to another (Norton 600). In this same way, Adam and Eve are threatened with expulsion from the

HUNNICUTT 5 Garden if they partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The authority controls the will, but it is flexible to the individual. The flexibility in this exercise of the freedom of will is regulated by the authority forcing the individual to work wherever they travel to in order to maintain a balance. Work is also the means through which God controls the freedom of choice within the Garden. By having the Garden continually replenish itself, Adam and Eve are controlled through constant labor, making the exercise of free will an afterthought (Milton 451). In both aspects, if labor is not undertaken, negative consequences are imposed. The work in Utopia, however, is delegated to a much greater level of detail, due to class structure. The extent of class structure in Paradise Lost is defined by the levels of angelic power, from God to the lowliest angel, Satan and his realm, and the residents of Eden, where Man is above all. Throughout each level, the ability to exercise freedom of will is dependent upon the will of a higher authority. Angels cannot travel to Eden without Gods permission, much in the same way the citizens of Utopia cannot travel without the permission of their authorities. In Utopia, however, the common citizen is paralleled to the level of the archangels over the angels, due to the presence of the slave class. Work itself is controlled, delegating some jobs to citizens and others to slaves. Despite showing a savage ability to fight when necessary, the citizens are forbidden to hunt. This is a job regulated for slaves (Norton 618). This is similar to Edens division of labor. It is the angels duty to speak and inform. It is Adam and Eves duty to work manual labor and obey. The freedom of will in regards to work is controlled by authority in both cases. Throughout Miltons Paradise Lost and Mores Utopia, the essence of what is freedom to mankind is evaluated. Milton shows that freedom is dependent upon choice. More shows that

HUNNICUTT 6 freedom is derived from social order. Both incorporate these viewpoints through the examination of the freedom of movement and the freedom of will. The expression and limitation of these two freedoms illustrates the essence and nature of freedom. By comparing and contrasting these works, the definition of what it means to be free in a regulated system can be observed and recorded.