God's Control In Paradise Lost

   In this essay I shall be focusing on the characters of G-d and Satan from 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton.  Within the essay I shall be attempting to elucidate on the themes of ambiguity of the two characters as well as the uncertainty of moral integrity of each, characterized by John's Milton's use of sentence structure, private thoughts and symbolism.

John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost explores themes of divine power to justify the ways of God. His portrayal of Satan as the protagonist rather than the villain allows reader’s to see that God doesn’t control people’s actions, and that instead we all have free will even though He does have the power to manipulate it. By including Satan’s side to the story as well as his fall, Milton is able to inform readers about the reason for the happy fall as well as include themes of pride, deceit, and communication. The idea of the happy fall successfully justifies the idea that people have obtained free will from Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God, and that God did plan the fall, but for humanity’s own benefit and to stop Satan. The retelling of The Fall in the epic poem allowed Milton to portray to reader’s that God’s actions were made to benefit all of humankind.

John Milton’s Paradise Lost depicts the heroic features of Satan in his attempt to destroy God’s creations. Satan is portrayed as a better “god” than God himself despite his hellish actions. Satan uses his compelling charm to better the inducement of his evil machinations. The ultimate denouement of Paradise Lost was the presentation of the devil as the real hero, which is not the conclusion that Milton intended.

The story of Job describes a wealthy man that has large flocks and a big family. God had always bragged about how good Job was although Satan second-guessed that and urged God to test him. Within one day, Satan had taken Job’s livestock, servants, and children. On top of everything else Satan curses him with skin sores. Through this entire catastrophe Job’s wife tells him to blaspheme God and give up his life. When it couldn’t get any worse, Job’s friends explain to him that God did this to punish him for his behavior and his children died because they deserved it. You’d think Job would question his relationship with God, but instead, Job wonders why his friends do not trust in God. Job’s response to it all is “He believes that there is a

In the beginning of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, the first words of the poem state that the main theme would evidently be “man’s first disobedience.” Throughout the story, Milton goes into specific detail of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, Satan’s rebellion and why each event within the text occurs. It is exhibited to be that Milton positions the story within the greater framework of Satan’s defiance. Satan and humankind’s insubordination towards God pose a major threat; Raphael tells Adam about it in order to provide him with a precise comprehension of the situation. Milton introduces two moral paths within Paradise Lost. First, the path represented by Satan, an unfavorable pathway of expanding depravity, shame and sin. The other path represented by Adam and Eve could easily be considered the road to redemption. Although Adam and Eve were the first human beings who refused to conform with God, we can agree that Satan is first amongst all of God’s creation to rebel against him.

“Paradise Lost” on its face leads one to believe that contrary to the teaching of the bible, God is unjust and paints a very clear picture form the onset that Satan was in all reality one of the good guys who had just been undermined and done wrong by God. (Paradise Lost Book III) The charismatic nature of Satan tends to lend itself to one almost feeling sorry for him due to the trials and tribulations which he has to endure due to the unfair God. The articulate writing of Milton’s when Satan is the speaker allows one to be drawn into the web of Satan unknowingly.

There is no doubt, when reading Milton’s text, in understanding how important Satan’s role is to Paradise Lost. Milton handles Satan’s heroic traits towards his worshipers, and his capability to manipulate others to demonstrate that there is a fine line between good and bad. Known as Lucifer, Satan was once an angel in heaven; one of extremely high standing. The description of Satan pushes the reader to draw the conclusion that he is at the head of everything, having built a strong image of power and influence. Milton expresses Satan’s fashion by saying, “His pride/ had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host. / Of rebel angels, by whose aspiring/ To set himself in glory above his peers” (Milton Book I). The main reason for which God outlawed Satan from heaven was because of how prideful he was. No matter the circumstances, Satan was always at a

If God created a hierarchy in Heaven, then, he was responsible for Satan’s rebellion, and by that responsible for man’s fall. It is important to relate these events to 17th century England in order to grasp Milton’s reason behind this representation. Charles I’s absolutism and divine kingship is the first cause of the civil war according to Milton and his puritan community. They refused to obey to Charles I’s authority and considered him as a tyrant. Moreover, puritans do not believe in divine kingship, they believe in a direct relation with God. As a result, they discredited Charles I’s divine authority and encouraged the puritans to execute him. In Paradise Lost, Satan not only disobeyed God’s authority but he had questions about God’s origins too. Like the puritans, demonstrates Armand, Satan was wondering if God’s authority is just “a result of customs and

Within holy heaven, Satan infuses the sin of pride into the atmosphere by raising up against God, the King of all authority. Such opposition meets the Lord of all who casts this arrogant angel down into the depths of hell—a place where evil abounds. This opposition proves only the beginning of ensuing war which will intensify until God silences it in the depths of hell. In Paradise Lost, John Milton uncovers the brewing embers of this war right from its first spark. Milton expounds upon the fall of Satan with the intent of giving his readers a taste of the tension which this war between God and Satan gives. This taste will spark an understanding within the readers’ mind of the presence of this ongoing present war. Throughout this piece of

The tragic fall of humankind could be considered heroic according to well-known author John Milton. Book IX of Paradise lost portrays this sense of heroism through the sins of Adam and Eve, but also creates a sense of controversy through the unexpected personality swap between Satan and of God. This literary work is a major contribution to biblical and literary history; therefore a reason why this work is still read today. The poem must turn tragic, and Milton asserts his intention to show this great fall is more heroic than the tales of Virgil and Homer because of the humanity scope it entails. The word tragic has two meanings in Milton’s mind. First, it carries the meaning of something terrible or bad. Since before the Middle Ages, Christians have considered the fall of Adam and Eve a tragic story. On the other hand, tragic also refers to the literary concept of tragedy. “However, throughout Paradise Lost, Milton more often portrays Hell and Paradise as states of mind— the seat of these emotions” (Silverman, 85). He invokes Urania, the Celestial Patroness, and asks for her to inspire his words during his sleep. He values her guidance because he fears he is too old and lacks the creativity needed to accomplish the task all alone. He hopes to remain focused on his ultimate and divine task of portraying this story in a new light. Throughout Book IX of Paradise Lost, Milton creates a sense of moral dilemma through sympathizing with the Devil

By classic definition, the character or being of the Satan is Job is not a main character, but the story is unable to happen without his involvement. The Satan is essential for the story of Job, because without the Satan, the trials and testing of Job would never have occurred in the first place. The role of the Satan is equally as important to proper understanding of the book of Job. Most scholars argue that the Satan here is a separate entity from the Devil or Satan in Jewish and Christian theological understandings. If not the devil himself, who is this Satan? The interpretation of the role of this being spans from divine prosecutor, servant of God, and even executioner.

John Milton’s Paradise Lost continues the epic tradition developed by the ancient Greek and Roman poets. Composed in exact imitation of its predecessors, the work depicts all characteristics of a traditional epic poem—including the epic hero, a powerful embodiment of societal values. Milton presents his hero in a most unpredictable form: Satan. Despite the unorthodox oddity, the former archangel exhibits the conventions of an epic hero. Milton’s forced perception of Satan as the hero of the poem reflects his stated purpose for writing the piece. By placing Satan in a traditional heroic role, Milton illustrates his manipulative and cunning nature, which anyone can easily fall prey to, and resultingly fashions Satan into an antihero.

In the world of literature, the most memorable characters are often those who are the most complex. Readers may sympathize with a character they find appealing, but the most enigmatic characters will stick out in their minds when they think back on their reading. In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan provides an archetype for this sort of character. Throughout the poem, an obvious contradiction develops between the apparent heroism in Satan’s actions and his role as the poem’s main force of evil.

“The epic to end all epics”; this is precisely how the Norton Anthology describes the epic poem Paradise Lost, in which author John Milton explores the familiar topics of Heaven and Hell, good and evil, even God and Satan. While these topics are often the foundation upon which many people build their lives, Milton tells the story—particularly of Satan—from a new and [for some] disturbing angle. Overflowing with opulent word choice, an abundance of extended similes, and cleverly placed oxymoron, combined with a rather understanding and compassionate tone, Milton challenges society’s comfortable position surrounding the terrible figure of Satan. He treads ever so warily among this topic, but nevertheless, it’s clear that he [perhaps even unintentionally] sympathizes with Satan. This sympathy surrounding the precarious topic of Lucifer presents a new and unsettling take on a subject so many people unquestionably agree upon; boldly urging readers to consider something new: is the devil simply misunderstood?

John Milton’s Paradise Lost is a poem that is unlike many of the poems written in the 15th century. It is told through a perspective of a creation, one in which most religious people are taught to blame due to his supposed sinister aura and therefore cast a shadow upon; Satan. Because the poem tells the story of Satan waging war against God; many are opposed to it as they believe that Satan should not be given a chance to speak because of his rebellious tendencies. It also touches upon the reason that God has allowed for evil to exist and to whom is to be blamed for evil to transpire, causing his influence to be prodigious as he attempts to answer the questions throughout his poem. This makes this poem extraordinary as he answers the question of theodicy from a distinct perspective that many in his era never dared to raise through stylistic techniques and thus should be honored just as Samuel Barrow would like it to be.