Redemption
Redemption is the act of saving someone from something. In the Christian worldview,
redemption would typically have to do with describing how God redeemed us from our sin by
sending his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and redeem us from our sins. Christian
Redemption biblically, signifies deliverance from danger, violence, or oppression. John Milton
and C.S. Lewis
The opening lines of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”, "Of Man's First Disobedience,and
the Fruit of that Forbidden tree ,whose mortal taste brought death into the world,and all our
woe,with loss of Eden, till one greater man restore us and regain the blissful seat,sing heavenly
muse,that on the chosen seed”( Milton, 1.1-26), gives an overview of Adam and Eve and their
fall from grace. The first words state that the poem's main theme will be man's first disobedience,
which will take him to two moral paths, the consequences after the fall, and the redemption of
man.
When Milton uses the theme disobedience it shows that Eve's act was a sin because she
was ordered by God not to eat from the forbidden fruit, and she ate from the forbidden fruit
displaying her disobedience to God because she went against the will of God. The perfect
obedience tends to be present in “Paradise Lost” by John Milton when God operates to rectify
"man's first disobedience." The Lord mentioned that he created Adam capable of being
"sufficient to have stood, though free to fall(Milton, 3.96-99)”. God states Adam and Eve will
fall and that their "fate" lies in their own hand as sacrifices made by them are their only chance
for redemption. It is understood that man can change their fate, this idea led me to believe the
same is true for redemption. Human beings are responsible for their own redemption.
The redemption theme is sealed with the birth of Christ; however, the component seems
to have been reiterated in all the instances he undoes the fault of Adam. Human beings had the
potential to rise although they fell. Christ endured as the real hero in Paradise lost since he
performed challenging activities to Satan. He voluntarily stepped up when God needed him as
humanity's salvation instrument. The Christ character offers himself as a sacrifice to be the hero.
The redemption theme is present when Christ broke every tradition to save human beings. Adam
and Eve's rebellious and disobedience makes God show his grace and sobriety in their penalties
and his everlasting divine intervention to human beings. This only shows and emphasizes the
love and compassion, given through the Son of God, is indeed a gift to human beings. human
beings must now have to experience pain and death, but it can also experience mercy, salvation,
and grace. While human beings have already received mercy from God, it can redeem and save
us through a non stop devotion and obedience to God. The redemption of human beings' sins
with the help of the Jesus Christ sacrifices can help in the renewal of human beings to its former
state. In short, good will come of sin and death, and human beings will eventually get its prize in
the end. This joyful ending only shows God's reasoning and explains his great plan for human
beings. Human beings must do their part to be the best in this temporary world. As Adam and
Eve leave Paradise, they already understand that obedience to God and love for his people can
help human beings toward its redemption and makes human beings toward bringing back the
Paradise that has been lost. Christ facilitated redemption in Milton's Lost Paradise.
C.S. Lewis’ novel “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'' narrates a story that involves
the Pevensie children. This story was set in London during the time of world war II, and it begins
with the Pevensie being chased and directed to live with an old professor in the countryside, all
for the sake of getting away from the blitz of London. The novel communicates themes about
redemption, choices, and religion through the Pevensie children’s experiences. Throughout the
story, the theme of redemption is seen differently and at different parts. Edmund's decision of
siding with the white witch is greatly confirmed as being disastrous and a step that endangers his
life, but he manages to redeem himself again when he gets to fight in the battle against the white
witch and also against who he used to be.
Edmund isn't always aware of all of the rules that must be followed. When he receives
the magical Turkish Delight from the White Witch, "At first Edmund tried to remember that it is
rude to speak with one's mouth full, but soon he forgot about this and thought only of trying to
shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could" (Lewis 38).
Edmund demonstrates redemption by switching his allegiance to Aslan's side and
smashing the White Witch's wand. The text states, "And when he reaches her he [has] sense to
bring sword smashing down of her wand instead of trying to go for her directly and simply
getting made a statue himself for his pains." (Lewis 196). Another example of how redemption is
portrayed is seen at that moment when Lucy forgives Tumnus for attempting to kidnap her.
Tumnus admitted to attempting to kidnap her and agreed not to report her. Then, as a result of
Lucy's forgiveness of Tumnus, they develop a friendship. The Tumnus's exact words were, "I'm a
kidnapper for her; that's what I am. Look at me, Daughter of Eve. Would you believe that I'm the
sort of Faun to meet a poor innocent child in the wood, one that had never done any harm, and
pretend to be friendly with it, and invite it home to my cave, all for the sake of lulling it asleep
and then handing it over to the White Witch." (Lewis)