Annotated Essay Proposal
Primary Text: Milton’s Paradise Lost
Question: Does Milton believe marriage to be necessary for the salvation of all persons?
Tentative Thesis: Yes, Milton believes not only that marriage is a natural state for man but
even an integral stepping stone along the path to salvation.
Synopsis of Support: The support for this essay will primarily consist in descriptions by the
narrator and quotes from a variety of characters. Book 4 and the first descriptions of Adam and
Eve contained therein will compose the core text analyzed. Additional support will be drawn
from the punishments of God and the words of Michael in Book 11, as well as the actions of
Adam and Eve relating to each other surrounding the fall which take place in Books 9 and 10.