The Fall of Satan from Paradise Lost

John Milton

Paradise Lost Book I

• Invocation and introduction of poem's theme • An account of Satan's revolt and expulsion from

Heaven • Dialogue between Satan and Beelzebub • The other devils' rallying around Satan - the

demonic host listed • Satan's speech to the legions (about the

creation of man) • The building of Pandemonium

Overview

“Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste

Brought death into the world, and, all our woe,

With the loss of Eden, till one greater Man

Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,(1-5)– refers to original sin of Adam and Eve – brought humans death for the first time

Overview

“Sing, Heavenly Muse…

That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed

In the beginning how the Heavens and Earth

Rose out of Chaos…” (6-10)– not asking for tradition Greek muse– asking for Holy Spirit to inspire him as he did

Moses to write the Ten Commandments and Genesis

Overview

• His poem will be better than all other classical writings

• Reason for writing – “And justify the ways of God to men” (26).

• Why God permits humans to suffer and die

– His poem will tell of the epic battle between God and Lucifer

Disobedience of Adam and Eve

“Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view,

Nor the deep tract of Hell, say first what cause

Moved our grand parents in that happy state,

Favored of Heaven so highly, to fall off

From their Creator, and transgress his will

For one restraint” (27-32).– God saw the transgression of Adam and Eve – Questions how this came about

Disobedience of Adam and Eve

“Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?The infernal Serpent, he who was, whose guile,Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived The mother of mankind, what time his prideHad cast him out from Heaven, with his host Of rebel angels…” (33-38).

• Satan corrupted God’s plan out of vengeance • God allows evil to exist in order that good may arise from it• Satan thrown out of Heaven by God • He is to blame for original sin

Satan

• He wanted to be like God• Rebelled and was punished

“To set himself in glory above his peers,He trusted to have equaled the Most High, If he opposed; and with ambitious aimAgainst the throne and monarchy of God, Raised impious was in Heaven and battle proud With vain attempt.”(39-44)

Satan and Hell

“Him the Almighty Power

Hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky

With hideous ruin and combustion down

To bottomless perdition, there to dwell

In adamantine chains and penal fire

Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms” (44- 49).

• Thrown out into depths of hell by God

Hell

• Milton uses darkness and imagery to indicate the horridness of Hell– “fiery gulf (52)– “dungeon horrible” (61)– “No light, but rather darkness visible” (63) – “discover sights of woe” (64)

Hell“Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comesThat comes to all; but torture without end Still urges…Such place Eternal Justice had prepared For those rebellious, here their prison ordainedIn utter darkness, and their portion setAs far removed from God and the light of Heaven” (65-73).

• Physical torment- fiery yet dark • Physiological pain

– “doom” “Lost happiness” “dismay”• Eternal punishment • Light and dark imagery

Beelzebub

“He soon discerns, and weltering by his side

One next himself in power, and next in crime,

Long after known in Palestine, and named

Beelzebub” (78-81).

• Second in power under Satan

Satan • Bemoans their place in Hell

“’If thou beest he- but O how fallen! How changedFrom him, who in the happy realm of lightClothed with transcendent brightness didst outshineMyriads though bright- if he whom mutual league,United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise,Joined with me once, now misery hath joined In equal ruin: into what pit thou seestFrom what height fallen!” (84-91)

• Tells Beelzebub he has been transformed for the worse by God’s punishment

• Mourns heaven when he sees the state of Beelzebub • Does not repent for his rebellion

Satan

“…so much the stronger proved

He with his thunder; and till then who knew

The force of those of those dire arms?” (92-94).

• Did not realize the strength and power of God

Satan • Sees himself as the enemy of God

“Yet not for those,Nor what the potent Victor in his rageCan else inflict, do I repent or change,” (95-97).

“Innumerable forces”Two “powers”Engage in “dubious battle”Heaven as a “lost field”God is Satan’s “lost foe”“eternal war” (93-124)

• Presents them as his army • Diction represents war

Satan

“the unconquerable will,

And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never to submit or yield:

And what is else not to be overcome?” (106-109)

• Driving force for Satan • God was upset by the battle- he was uncertain

about the outcome

Satan • Will continue was for eternity

“since by fate the strength of godsAnd this emerged substance cannot fail,Since through experience of this great event,In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced,We may with more successful hope resolveTo wage by force or guile eternal war Irreconcilable to our grand Foe,Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy,Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven.” (116-124)

Satan

• Will wage war against God’s tyranny

• God in heaven rejoicing

• Take action once again

Beelzebub’s Response

“That with sad overthrow and foul defeat

Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host

In horrible destruction laid thus low,

As far as gods and heavenly essences

Can perish…/

Here swallowed up up in endless misery.”

(135-142).

Beelzebub's Response

• Doubtful

• Can we overpower God and his supremacy?

• Realizes the horridness of their situation

Beelzebub's Response

“That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,

Or do him mightier service as his thralls

By right of war, whate’er his business be,

Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire,

Or do his errands in the gloomy deep?

What can it then avail, though yet we feel

Strength undiminished, or eternal being

TO undergo eternal punishment?” (148-155).

Beelzebub’s Response

• Questions if they are still slaves of God’s

• Their punishment in hell is to do God’s bidding in hell

Satan’s Response

• “to be weak is miserable” (157)• “To do aught good never will be our task,

But ever to do ill our sole delight

As being the contrary to his high will

Whom we resist” (158-162).

– Only commit deeds of evil– God cannot control that – His evil will equal God’s goodness

Satan’s Response

“Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, The seat of desolation, void of light, Save what the glimmering of these livid flamesCasts pale and dreadful?” (180-183)

• Satan’s perspective of Hell• He realizes the horror of it and is repelled by

it

Satan’s Response

“And reassembling our afflicted powers, Consult how we may henceforth most offendOur Enemy, our own loss how repair,How overcome this dire calamity, What reinforcement we may gain from hope,If not, what resolution from despair.” (186-191)

• Satan’s plan of action• Seek vengeance for the offence

Satan “Prone on the flood, extended long and large,Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge As whom the fables name of monstrous size, Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove,Briareos or Typhon whom led the denBy ancient Tarus held, or that sea-beastLeviathan, which God od all his worksCreated hugest that swim the ocean stream.” (195-202)

• Indicates the hugeness and vastness of Satan • Compared to Titans and giants from Greek Mythology

Satan “…this is the seat That we must change for Heaven, this mournful gloomFor that celestial light? Be it so, since he Who now is sovereign can dispose and bidWhat shall be right: farthest from him is best,Whom reason hath equaled, force hath made supremeAbove his equals.” (243-249)

• Accepts his new placement and wants to reign sovereign • Happy to have his own kingdom to rule• Proves he is God’s equal• Pride • “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven” (263)• Eager to rally his forces- needs support to rebel against God

Epic Simile

• Something in the poem is compared to something quite outside the poem– Compares Satan to Titans and Greeks from

mythology (196-208)– Compares his landing to smashing of a hill or

volcano which create an explosive force (230-237)