Editing Paradise Lost (section)

===Marriage===
[[File:William Blake - Satan Watching the Caresses of Adam and Eve - WGA02226.jpg|thumb|''Satan Watching the Caresses of Adam and Eve'', [[William Blake]] (1808).]]
Milton first presented Adam and Eve in Book IV with impartiality. The relationship between Adam and Eve is one of "mutual dependence, not a relation of domination or hierarchy". While the author placed Adam above Eve in his intellectual knowledge and, in turn, his relation to God, he granted Eve the benefit of knowledge through experience. Hermine Van Nuis clarifies, that although there was stringency specified for the roles of male and female, Adam and Eve unreservedly accept their designated roles.<ref>{{Harvnb|Van Nuis|2000|p=50}}.</ref> Rather than viewing these roles as forced upon them, each uses their assignment as an asset in their relationship with each other. These distinctions can be interpreted as Milton's view on the importance of mutuality between husband and wife.

When examining the relationship between Adam and Eve, some critics apply either an Adam-centered or Eve-centered view of [[hierarchy]] and importance to God. David Mikics argues, by contrast, these positions "overstate the independence of the characters' stances, and therefore miss the way in which Adam and Eve are entwined with each other".<ref name="Mikics2004-p22">{{Harvnb|Mikics|2004|p=22}}.</ref> Milton's narrative depicts a relationship where the husband and wife (here, Adam and Eve) depend on each other and, through each other's differences, thrive.<ref name="Mikics2004-p22" /> Still, there are several instances where Adam communicates directly with God while Eve must go through Adam to God; thus, some have described Adam as her guide.{{sfn|Mikics|2004}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}
[[File:Füssli - The Return of Milton's Wife, 1798–1799.jpg|thumb|left|''The Return of [[John Milton's relationships#Mary Powell|Milton's Wife]]'', [[Henry Fuseli]] (1798–99)]]
Although Milton does not directly mention divorce, critics posit theories on Milton's view of divorce based upon their inferences from the poem and from his [[Milton's divorce tracts|tracts on divorce]] written earlier in his life. Other works by Milton suggest he viewed marriage as an entity separate from the church. Discussing ''Paradise Lost'', Biberman entertains the idea that "marriage is a contract made by both the man and the woman".<ref>{{Harvnb|Biberman|1999|p=137}}.</ref> These ideas imply Milton may have thought that both man and woman should have equal access to marriage and to divorce.