John Miltons Paradise Lost Essay - 3087 Words

John Miltons Paradise Lost John Milton’s Paradise Lost is filled with fantastical tales from the depths of Hell, extravagant descriptions of the fallen angels, and a curious recitation of the council of demons in their new palace. How did Milton dream up such vivid depictions of such horrible demons as the ones we see in Book I? Most of his fallen angels originate in the form of Pagan gods condemned by the Bible, with actual historical backgrounds which Milton cites in his lengthy descriptions. Firstly, a few words about Satan would seem prudent, as he is the first of the fallen angels, the leader in the revolt, and the first to venture to earth to corrupt mankind. He is Milton’s main character, and the only one to extend†¦show more content†¦The Old Testament leaves hints as to Satan’s character, while the New Testament states outright how Satan came to be. It began with his dissent from God’s will And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9) Milton’s knowledge of the Bible is proved beyond the context of the battle in heaven with the creation of the other angels, all of whom have origins â€Å"adorned with gay religions full of pomp and gold, and devils to adore for deities: Then were they known to men by various names, and various idols through the heathen world† (Paradise Lost Other Poems 103). Moloch, the â€Å"horrid King besmeard with blood of human sacrifice and parents tears† (103) is the first to ascend from the lake after Beelzebub and Satan. He was a god whose altars were filled with â€Å"the noyse of drums and timbrels loud† so that parents’ â€Å"childrens cries [went] unheard that past through fire to his grim idol† (103). â€Å"Him the Ammonite worshipt in Rabba and her watryShow MoreRelatedJohn Miltons Paradise Lost2516 Words   |  11 PagesJohn Milton’s famous poem Paradise Lost has influenced society throughout the ages on a number of topics ranging from the fall of Satan to the marriage roles that Adam and Eve teach us. One idea stands alone though more so than that of any other topic that Milton writes about and that is the idea of a Satanic Trinity. The Satanic Trinity shows how the evil of Hell spread to Earth and how it tempts us in our everyday life. Milton writes about the Satanic Trinity because he believes th at one must understandRead MoreJohn Miltons Theodicy in Paradise Lost595 Words   |  2 PagesParadise Lost is an epic of John Milton, a seventeenth century English author, known for being the greatest reader in English history. The poem goes back to the beginning of time and tells of the rebellion of Satan and his followers, the war in that took place in heaven, and the defeat of Satan. The story also tells of the creation of the world, the life of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and their loss of everything when they give into the temptations of Satan in the form of a reptile. It endsRead MoreTheodicy in John Miltons Paradise Lost792 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Miltons theodicy in Paradise Lost is an attempt to justify the ways of God to men. Many ask how God could let someone as innocent as a child die in a horrible way. How could a God that is all loving and all powerful let something like that happen? He answers this using the fall of Mankind as the trigger point. Cordelia Zukerman and Thomas H. Luxon, The dominance of these themes comes from the fact that Milton is writing about the first humans on earth, humans who have no history and no wayRead More John Miltons Paradise Lost Essay1848 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Miltons Paradise Lost Freedom (free will) is the absence of imposed behavior. Individual freedom is obviously attractive, but when there is real freedom of choice, the wrong choice is the one that is made - such as the choice made by Satan who although he can be admired for his having dared to rebel against the norm, is not heroic for having chosen to plot against God. Free will was given to man in order to be able to choose the faith since in the absence of free will, there isRead MoreHumanism in John Miltons Paradise Lost2072 Words   |  9 Pageshumanism. Moreover, the authors who wrote already during the 17th century and represented the Neoclassicism proceeded with the ideas of humanism. John Milton, who grew out of the Renaissance and classical tradition, was one of such authors. He was the greatest Puritan poet and the first English revolutionary poet in the 17th century. Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’, written during the last stage of his life and being one of the poet’s greatest creations, covers the ideas of humanism most deeply and widelyRead MoreJohn Miltons Paradise Lost863 Words   |  4 PagesParadise Lost is a story of Genesis told as it normally would be, but with a protagonist focus on Satan. The story is told largely with Satan being favorably portrayed and God having little presence other than cursing things, which convinces the audience that Satan’ s view of God as a tyrant may not be too far off. Still, Satan is portrayed as the villain of the story. However, he has characteristics of a classical hero; including flaws that make the audience relate to and feel sympathy for him. ByRead MoreThe Progression Of Satan In John Miltons Paradise Lost1319 Words   |  6 Pages The Progression of Satan Paradise Lost is an epic poem written by John Milton other uses this epic poem to depict the integral scenes, or rather, experiences that lead up to the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. In the Bible, as well as all prominent, and popular religious works; there is a clear distinction as to who the reader should be cheering for throughout their readings. However, John Miltons Paradise Lost has turned this concept on its head. Rather than placing the focus ontoRead More Narcissism in John Milton’s Paradise Lost Essay794 Words   |  4 PagesNarcissism in John Milton’s Paradise Lost When Eve eats the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, her decision to tell Adam of her disobedience turns on two suppositions. If her transgression is kept secret from God, Eves augmented knowledge might increase Adams love for her, and perhaps cause her to be more equal or even superior to Adam. Even though Eve was created comparable to Adam as his helper, she refers to Adam as her Author and Disposer. Furthermore, she says that while GodRead MoreEssay on Satan in John Miltons Paradise Lost2512 Words   |  11 Pagesof God, a personification of evil, the fallen angel, a spirit created by God, and also the accuser. People see Satan differently, some know of his existence, others think of him as just a myth, and there are those that just ignore him. John Miltons Paradise Lost tells of Satans banishment from Heaven and his gain of earth. He and his brigade have plotted war against God and are now doomed to billow in the fiery pits of hell. Satan is a complex character with ma ny different qualities. God is aRead MoreHell In John Miltons Paradise Lost : Hell1034 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Milton’s Paradise Lost: Hell Term Paper Hell has a very long history; it comes up even before Christianity where the idea of hell has been mentioned across many different cultures. Over the period of many centuries, the concept of hell has changed and developed. To further understand John Milton’s description of hell in his poem â€Å"Paradise Lost† it would be a good idea to look at what the standard notion of hell in Europe before or during the 17th century. When looking back at the middle ages