Beauty And The Beast Of Paradise Lost

Beauty and the Beast: Paradise Lost Edition

Okay, everyone knows Beauty and the Beast, right? Girl meets grumpy, misunderstood creature, they fall in love, and he transforms into a handsome prince. End of story. But what if I told you there was a far more epic, arguably stranger, version lurking within Paradise Lost?

Because, spoiler alert, Milton's epic poem also has a Beauty and a Beast...sort of.

Meet Our "Beauty": Eve

Eve, our original garden girl, is kind of the "Beauty" figure here. She's depicted as radiant, innocent, and utterly captivating. Milton makes it very clear that she's beautiful to behold.

She is also curious and naive. She really just wants to understand the world around her, which, let's be honest, is a pretty relatable trait.

And the "Beast": Satan (Surprise!)

Here's where things get wild. Instead of a hairy beast, we have Satan, the fallen angel himself. He's not initially monstrous-looking, though. Instead, he is described with a sort of dark and powerful charisma.

He's all about rebellion and tempting poor Eve with forbidden knowledge. He's basically the ultimate bad boy, but with snake scales and a penchant for cosmic warfare.

The "Tale as Old as Time" Gets a Twist

Now, here's where the Paradise Lost version goes off the rails. There's no heartwarming waltz in a grand ballroom here. Instead, we have Satan, disguised as a serpent (talk about a makeover!), whispering sweet nothings (lies, actually) into Eve’s ear.

He promises her wisdom and godhood, all by just taking a bite of that forbidden apple. Talk about a poisoned apple of beauty.

The "Curse": It's Not What You Think

Instead of a magical curse turning a prince into a beast, we have the original sin. Eve eats the apple, shares it with Adam, and bam! Humanity is banished from paradise.

It's a pretty heavy consequence for wanting to "be more." There is no spell break with a true love's kiss, though.

The "Romance"? Maybe? (Probably Not)

Okay, let's be clear: there’s no actual romance between Eve and Satan. It's more like a really, really bad sales pitch. He preys on her curiosity and insecurity. It's definitely not a healthy relationship, kids.

However, there is a weird kind of twisted connection, almost a co-conspiracy, between the two. Satan needs Eve, and Eve is tempted by Satan. The relationship is not as wholesome as Beauty and the Beast, though.

The Moral of the Story (Sort Of)

Paradise Lost's "Beauty and the Beast" isn’t about finding the inner good in someone who seems monstrous. It's a cautionary tale about temptation, deception, and the consequences of disobedience. There's less singing and more existential dread.

But hey, it's still a fascinating story about good versus evil. Also, it shows us that even the most beautiful garden in the world can have some seriously messed-up drama.

So, Next Time...

Next time you watch the Disney movie, remember there's a darker, stranger version out there in the epic realms of Paradise Lost. It's a bit less heartwarming, but definitely thought-provoking. Just don't go eating any suspicious apples!