Paradise Lost (Book I & II) Epic

Paradise Lost (Book I & II)

Epic

Paradise Lost is an outstanding epic in the history of English literature. John Milton has composed it in 1665. The main characters of this epic are God, Adam, Eve and Satan. The fall of the Satan and his followers from the heaven to hell because of disobedience to God is the main theme of this epic. The Satan declares war against the God. So, The God threw him and his followers into the burning hell. Adam had to face untold misery because of the activities of Satan. The Satan misleads Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. They eat food misguided by Satan and disobeying the order of God. So they commit sin. They are sent to the earth. The Satan comes to the earth and further starts misleading the human beings against the God. Satan appears as the embodiment of deceit, jealousy, revenge and pride.

 Milton introduces Satan –the infernal serpent. Satan raises “an impious war” against God. As a result Satan was thrown from heaven by God into fearful about the punishment of God. In spite of having terrible punishment he remains indomitable. He does not care the punishment of God. We see that Satan welcomes Hell and all its horrors.

He comforts himself with the thought that he is the Lord of Hell. Satan accuses God of illogical will and power. Since Satan will have to dwell in Hell, he comforts himself with the thoughts that it is best to be farthest off from God. Satan’s mind remains unchanged.

Satan thinks that the mind can be independent of external circumstances. Satan inspires his followers that they are totally free in the hell. They are free from the torture of God. He consoles his followers remarking that it would be better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. Satan feels that it is wrongs to confine himself and his followers in Hell. Yet he says it is for God to decide what is right and what is wrong. The Hell is safe place from them. From here they will be able to commit any crime without the intervention of the God. He bids farewell to heaven and welcomes the Hell. 

He offers the Hell to accept them cordially. His mind cannot be changed by place or time. He believes that his unchanged mind will be able to make the Heaven into Hell. He is prepared to find out his happiness in the Hell.

We see the indomitable spirit of Moloch, powerful and boastful comrade of Satan. Satan persuades his followers to make the war against the God. Some of his followers advised him not to make the war against the God. But Moloch stands up and says that his vote or opinion is for open war. He wants to make direct war against the God. He also says that they (leaders) are wasting time for making tricks/intrigues. But thousands of their followers are waiting to get their final command. He does not like the idea that when such persons will be busy in planning intrigues, others, millions of angelic soldier’s are fully prepared with arms. They are waiting only for a signal to fly up to heaven and invade it. According to Moloch, to make intrigues by sitting idle is totally wastage of time. This may not have any outcome. Only face to face combat may bring the outcome.

He persuades his followers to be prepared now. He is supporter of single combat. We see the evil advices of Beelzebub. Satan, Beelzebub and their followers want to take revenge against God. But how? Beelzebub advices them that they will misguide the human beings in this world. They will drive out the human beings from this world right as they have been driven out from the heaven. If they fail to drive out the human beings, they will convince them. Then they will make them (human beings) their (Satan’s party) members. As a result the God will be the enemy of the human beings. God will become annoyed at their behavior. So God will take action against his favorite human beings. God will destroy his own creations. This will be better way than to take common revenge.

 It will bring their pleasure and will make pain for the God. The human beings will be bound to join out party. They will lose their happiness. They will curse the God. Through this book Milton desires to preach the principles of the God to the human beings. According to the poet, we are unable to understand God’s ways fully. We need humbleness, patience and the spirit of absolute trust in the wisdom of God. This does not come easily to us, and so Milton says that he would use his talents and gifts to explain the ways of God. Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epics.

Satan is most important character in Paradise Lost. Milton’s Satan is gifted with heroic qualities. Milton gives a dramatic description of Satan. Satan appears as the embodiment of deceit, jealousy, revenge and pride. Milton introduces Satan- the infernal serpent. Satan raises “an impious war” against God. As a result Satan was thrown from heaven by God into the pit of Hell. The chief character of Satan is his courage. He is not at all fearful about the punishment of God. Satan has vigorous speech. Through his vigorous speech, he can easily influence his followers. Satan has fondness for quibbles. He knows well how to use quibbles to weaken his followers. Undoubtedly Satan is an eloquent personality.

 He has strong eloquence. Through eloquence, he can easily misguide his followers. Indomitable. Satan has great anxiety for his followers. It is the trait of a great general of an army, to think of the welfare of his followers even before the thinks of his own safety. He has the bravery to disobey the God. Disobedience to God is vital character. Satan is a revengeful character. After throwing into the Hell, he decides to take revenge against his punishment.

 We see the indomitable spirit of Moloch, the powerful and boastful comrade of Satan. Satan persuades his followers to make the war against the God. But Moloch stands up and says that his vote for open war. He wants to make direct war against the God. He also says that they (leaders) are wasting time for making tricks/ intrigues. But thousands of their followers are waiting to get the final command. Moloch does not claim to the knowledge of any cunning process in which, he knows, he has no skill. Let other persons who love such intrigues plan them or welcome them when they want, but certainly not now. He does not like the idea that when such persons will be busy in planning intrigues, others, millions of angelic soldiers are fully prepared with arms. They are waiting only for a signal to fly up to heaven and invade it. According to Moloch, to make intrigues by sitting idle is totally wastage of time. This may not have any outcome. Only face-to-face combat may bring the outcome. He persuades his followers to be prepared now. He is supporter of single combat.

My sentence is for open war. Of wiles,

More unexpert, I boast not: them let those

Contrive who need, or when they need; not now.”

We see the evil advices of Beelzebub. Satan, Beelzebub and their followers want to take revenge against God. But how? Beelzebub advises them that they will misguide the human beings in this world. They will drive out the human beings from this world right as they have been driven out from the heaven. If they fail to drive out the human beings, they will convince the human beings. Next they will make them (human beings) their (Satan’s) party members. As a result the God will be the enemy of the human beings. God will become annoyed at their behavior. So, God will take action against his favorite human beings. God will destroy his own creations. This will be the better way than to take common revenge. It will bring their pleasure and will make pain for the God. The human being will be bound to join our party. They will lose their happiness. They will curse the God.

“Seduce them to our party, that their God

May prove their foe, and wit h repenting hand

Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge.”

The poet wants that his dark soul/evil soul should be lightened by the intuition. He wants the remedy of his sinful/wicked soul. He invokes/prays to almighty for leading intuitional life. He would like to establish the order of the God by overcoming any indiscipline and debate. He also desires to preach the principles of the God to the human beings. According to the poet, we are unable to understand God’s ways fully.

We need humbleness, patience and the spirit of absolute trust in the wisdom of God. This does not come easily to us, and so Milton says that he would use his talents and gifts to explain the ways of God. Milton’s plan is to announce that Divine plan for the world is beneficent and that God’s dealings with men are always just. He wants to strengthen his weak soul by the touch of god’s instructions. After all he is prepared to sacrifice himself for establishing the principles of the God.

“I may assert Eternal providence,

And justify the ways of God to men.”

We see that Satan welcomes Hell and all its horrors. He comforts himself with the thought that he is the Lord of Hell. Satan accuses God of illogical will and power. Since Satan will have to dwell in Hell, he comforts himself with the thoughts that it is best to be farthest off from God. Satan’s mind remains unchanged. Satan thinks that the mind can be independent of external circumstances. Satan inspires his followers that they are totally free in the Hell. They are free from the torture of the God. He consoles his followers remarking that it would be better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Satan feels that it is wrong to confine himself and his followers in Hell. But he says it is for God to decide what is right and what is wrong. The Hell is safe place for them. From here they will be able to commit any crime without the intervention of the God. He bids farewell to heaven and welcomes the Hell. He offers the Hell to accept them cordially. His mind cannot be changed by place or time. He believes that his unchanged mind will be able to make the Hell into heaven and heaven into Hell. He is prepared to find out his happiness in the Hell.

Farewell, happy fields,

Where joy for-ever dwells; Hail, horrors! Hail

Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell,

Receives thy new possessor: One who brings

A mind not to be changed by place or time.

The mind is its own place, and in itself

Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of heaven.