HL 2002 Renaissance Literature Week 12 Milton’s Paradise Lost, an introduction.

John Milton 1608 – 1674 Born to a religious, middle-class family Received B.A. in 1629 and M.A. in 1632 (Cambridge). Initially trained for clerical career but decided that his calling was to be a poet and devoted his life to a life of letters. A Puritan: protestants from 16th and 17th centuries who adhered to strict religious discipline (solely to the bible) and rejected any other forms or sources of religious practices.

Paradise Lost First edition 1667, 10 books.

Paradise Lost Second edition 1675, 12 books.

Paradise Lost Major themes in the epic poem: “justify the ways of God to man” (1.26) Ideas of predestination (free will, fate, resistance) Omnipotence of God Human reason and Divine reason

Paradise Lost Some of the questions that are raised with these themes: Can creatures other than God question and reason with Him? Do God’s creatures have free will? If God is considered to be the creator and designer of everything, then why is Satan allowed to revolt? Following the above, why does God then let Adam and Eve fall into temptation?

Paradise Lost The poem begins in media res (plunges into the middle of the story). Readers are simply informed that Satan and his legion of rebel angels have been banished from heaven. Satan’s opening speech (1.83-124). Is his speech persuasive in presenting himself as unjustly punished and banished? The way in which Satan describes God and the conflict between the fallen angels and God.

Paradise Lost God as tyrant, conflict as war. Changed outwardly only but the banishment have “left us this our spirit and strength entire” (1.146). “What can it then avail, though we feel/ Strength undiminished or eternal being,/ To undergo eternal punishment? (1.153-55) Revolt not for the sake of creating evil or revolting: this argument is important as it appears to justify Satan’s argument. That which is acceptable in warfare.

Paradise Lost The mind is its own place and in itself Can make a Heaven of hell, a hell of Heaven. What matter where, if I be still the same And what I should be, all but less than he Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at lease We shall be free. The almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence; Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in hell: Better to reign in hell than serve in Heaven. (1.254-63)

Paradise Lost What makes this passage so “admirable”? Perseverance in Satan is still perseverance? Satan as warrior; imagery and classical comparisons to the Iliad. Iliad: the catalogue of tribes (in Paradise Lost, the catalogue of fallen legions). Odysseus’ council to rouse the men to pick up their weapons and continue fighting; Satan speech. Imagery of the greatest army ever gathered for war. Milton’s description of Satan.

Paradise Lost The force and weakness of Satan’s speech; not one of evil against good, but restoring rights that have been wronged; “native seat” (1.634) God as tempter; God’s fault (1.640-42). Does Satan’s logic “justify the ways of God to man”? Or should God’s creatures not justify His actions—including his creation of acts of temptation? End of Book I, a prophecy that God will create “A generation whom his choice regard/ Should favor equal to the sons of Heaven” (1.653-54).

Paradise Lost Book II, the council at Pandemonium; Satan’s journey to the human realm. Voting for war against God. The arguments: Moloch (bloodshed, violence) What can be worse Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorred deep to utter woe, Where pain of unextinguisable fire Must exercise us without hope of end... (2.85-89)

Paradise Lost 2) Belial (weak and sloth); “ignoble ease,” refusal to risk anymore since they are already in despair; better to adapt to their new circumstances. Also harbors hope that their punishment may be relieved by God. Losing battle to war in Heaven: First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled With armed watch that render all access Impregnable; oft on the bordering deep Encamp their legions or with obscurewing Scout far and wide into the realm of night, Scorning surprise. (2.129-34)

Paradise Lost Belial’s argument again calls attention to God’s omniscience and omnipotence: how can the rebel angels win this war when God knows everything? 3) Mammon (wealth); the rebel angels should take advantage of their circumstances. Why return to Heaven?: (“... How wearisome/ Eternity so spent in worship paid/ To whom we hate”) Heaven not so different from hell; in hell no oppression, all in control 4) Beelzebub; advocates the proposal first favored by Satan. Observe Milton’s description of Beelzebub. How does it compare with the other rebel angels?

Paradise Lost Best solution is not to invade Heaven but the human realm: ... Another world, the happy seat Of some new race called man, about this time To be created like us, though less In power and excellence but favored more Of him who rules above... (2.347-51) Does this description tell us anything about God’s relationship with the rebel angels? And perhaps, with humans?

Paradise Lost The human realm as a place that is vulnerable (“this place may lie exposed,/ The utmost border of his kingdom, left/ To their defense who hold it”). 2.360-62. The rebel angels motivation for tempting and bringing about the fall of man—solely as an act of vengeance against god, not humans. The act seen as something that “surpass[es] Common revenge.” Humans as pawns? Beelzebub wins everyone’s votes.

Paradise Lost Satan takes it upon himself to embark on the journey from hell to the human realm. Milton’s description of Satan’s voluntary attempt to do so; how is Satan depicted? You can throw the rebel angels out of heaven but cannot take heaven out of the rebel angels (2.687); Satan introduces himself as a spirit of Heaven. Satan’s encounter with Sin and Death (as allegorical figures). Sin portrayed as female figure, her conception parallels the birth of Athena (who was born out of Zeus’ head). Satan’s incestuous relationship with Sin (and her attraction) (2.758) Born when Satan first conceived of turning against God. Satan does not recognize her! (what are the implications of this?)

Paradise Lost 2) Death is produced from the union of Satan and Sin, and Death’s incestuous union with his mother, Sin, produces the hounds of hell. Satan manages to persuade Sin to let him pass through hell. The key: the problem of Sin as gatekeeper to hell? (2.850) Sin’s betrayal of God and her loyalty to Satan: Thou art my father, thou my author, thou My being gav’st me; whom should I obey But thee, whom follow? (2.864) Parallels with God and his Son.