In Miltons epic poem Paradise Lost God gave free will to the angels and because of that Satan chose to lead a rebellion against his supreme commander. Does it not stand to reason that having given one of his greatest creations free will that he would then give that same free will to his next greatest creation Adam and Eve. Through out Paradise Lost Milton alludes to the fact that Adam and Eve had free will before that fateful bite was taken from the apple.
Miltons first line in book one Of mans first disobedience, and the fruit of the forbidden tree, whose mortal taste brought death into the world, [Book 1 (1-3)] proclaims this was the first choice that was made by Eve and Adam. I think that Adam and Eve according to Milton were exercising free will before that. I will show with textural support from the different books of Miltons Paradise Lost that they had both reason and free will.
Already in Book 2 Milton is making the reader begin to question whether Adam and Eve have the ability to make choices. God is talking to his only son about Satans journey to the garden and of how Satan will pervert man. God says, for man will hearken to his glozing lies and easily transgress the sole command, [Book 3 (93-94)] Milton is saying here that Adam and Eve will make a choice to listen to Satan and the choice will be made easily. On Satan travels seeing all manner of beast until finally in Book 4 he enters the garden of Eden and comes across Two of nobler shape erect and tall, [Book 4 (288)] these two who were made in the image of their maker with Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, severe but in true filial freedom placed; [Book 4 (293-294)] this literally means that Adam and Eve were created in Gods image but were given the freedom that one gives a child. This again shows that God gave them free will and the ability to choose, children dont always make the right choices nor do they always obey their parents so it is possible that given time Adam and Eve may have chosen to eat from the Tree of Knowledge with out the help of the serpent.
Milton still isnt through showing us that Adam and Eve are able to reason. After Eve awakens from her nightmare Adams wonders how could Eve possible have such a terrible evil dream, Adam says, Yet evil whence? in thee can harbor none, created pure. [Book 8 (99-100)], or in other words how can you have such a dream when we are not to know of such things. Milton is saying though that Adam and Eve do have knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil and that is how Eve can have the dream and Adam can know that it is evil. Adam even seems to possess a little bit of guile as he uses it to prolong his visit with Raphael in Book 8. In asking about the stars in the heavens and telling Raphael about his creation is Adam not using the art of deception to keep Raphael there?
Adam asks a question of God on that very first day of his creation. Why was he alone with no one to have fellowship with? God answered that he was pleased that Adam knew the names of all the beasts and that he knew more and was Expressing well the spirit with thee free, [Book 8 (440)] God was happy that Adam could express himself freely. Finally on that fateful day the last choices are made before the apple is eaten. Eve reasons with Adam Oh hear what to my mind first thoughts present, Let us divide out labors, thou where choice leads thee, or where most needs ( 213 215) Once again they make a choice and that choice it there undoing. The final choice though is Adams he chooses to eat from the apple also and in doing so seals his fate with Eves.
I have shown through Miltons own words that Adam and Eve had reason and choice before the serpent offered the apple. Given this free will would they have chosen to eat the apple anyway at some later time? Did they have temptation and would that temptation have been too much. According to the words of Milton Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall., [Book 3 (99)] these words could have pertained to man as much as they did to the angels.
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