Some Notes on Milton’s Paradise Lost

British Novel to Film

Dr. M. Connor

Introduction

The poem was immediately recognized as a masterpiece.

Dryden is one of the first to critically approach the poem in his Apology for Heroic Poetry and Poetic License

Book one, from the beginning

Latinate structure makes the poem difficult for us to read

The first sentence is 16 lines long The first verb doesn’t come till the

beginning of line six, “sing”.

Invocation to the Muse

Milton formats the poem as a traditional epic

His “Muse” is the Christian Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost)

But he also uses pagan names and trappings.

But this is always a Christian poem

The poem’s purpose

Given in lines 24-25:– I may assert Eternal Providence– And justify the ways of God to men

That is the “main point” or “thesis” of the poem

Introduction to Satan

In the next part of the poem, we are introduced to what has happened--Satan’s revolt.

We learn that Satan and the other fallen angels have undergone and physical change, as well.

We also meet Hell’s “#2” Beelzebub

Devils’ “life goal”

In lines 120ff, we learn of what the devils vow to do:– We may with more successful hope resolve– To wage by force or guile eternal war,– Irreconcilable to our grand Foe,– Who now triumphs, and in th’ excess of joy– Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven

Illogical devils

The devils know that God is omnipotent, yet they still tried to overpower him. See ll 130-3– ...in dreadful deeds– Fearless, endangered Heaven’s perpetual king

– (my emphasis)

See themselves as gods

In line 138, they refer to themselves as “gods” and this is something they continue throughout the poem.

This vanity is one of the reasons they are in trouble in the first place.

Repeat the evil plan

Lines 159-60, repeat the vow to cause bad– To do aught good never will be our task,– But ever to do ill our sole delight.

We “see” Hell

In the lines following line 175, the weather starts to clear and through Satan’s eyes we “see” Hell for the first time.

What follows is a long descriptive passage

Description of Satan

In the lines following 192, we also “see” Satan.

He’s large. A rood is 6-8 meters and he’s “many a rood”.

Also winged, as befits a former angel. Long descriptive passage

Famous lines

From line 252ff, very famous section. We learn that Satan has:– 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

This ties in very much with the theme of Free Will

Satan’s paradox

From line 258ff we see the paradox Satan sets up: He’s free in Hell, a prison:– Here at least– 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.

Beautiful speech

In lines 315 to the end of the section we read, Satan gives a beautiful speech trying to rouse the fallen angels to action.

His final line in that section: – Awake, arise or be forever fallen!

Is quite awe-inspiring. We can see why the angels/devils will follow him.

Book two

Again, the section we read starts with beautiful images.

In lines 304 ff we again see beautiful sentiments, but in Milton’s universe, they are false.

As much as we are attracted to Satan and his words, we have to remember that he is the Arch-Enemy

Man is the key to hurting God

From lines 345 on, Satan talks about how Man is the key to hurting God.

From 358 on, Satan describes how Man is the weakness in God’s “armor”.– This place may lie exposed,– The utmost border of his kingdom, left– To their defense who hold it;

Introduce the idea of seduction

In line 367, Satan declares that if he can’t force Man to betray God, he may be able to “seduce” him.

This may make God abolish Man, causing God pain, as Man is currently His favorite creature.

“Synod of gods”

From line 389 on, we see Satan spinning out a long fantasy about what may happen.

In here, we see Satan at his seductive best. Around 468ff, we also see him being quite

Machiavellian in his approach to leadership

Sets up parallel to Jesus

In line 826ff, Satan says he will sacrifice himself “one for all”

This echoes Jesus’s sacrifice of himself to Death so that Man may live.

Free Will

In lines 98ff, God explains why He gave free will to Man, even though it will lead to Man’s fall.– Not free, what proof could they have given sincere– Of true allegiance, constant faith or love.

Foreknowledge is not Destiny

Lines 117ff, God explains that His foreknowledge is different from predestination:– Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,– Which had no less proved certain unforeknown.

Avoiding The Fall

In lines 124ff, God explains that to avoid the Fall of Man, He would have to change Man’s nature.

He has decreed that they have Free Will, so he will not change that:– they themselves ordained their fall (128)

Satan vs. Man

God explains that Satan fell through his own pride, so he has no special Grace.

But Man will fall through Satan’s temptation, so God will offer Grace.

Lines 170ff, God explains His Grace and how it will help

Book four: Satan in Paradise

The section we reads starts with a soliloquy by Satan in which he rails against his fate.

Beautiful poetry We pity him He feels regrets

Pride

Satan knows that the Sin of Pride is his downfall– Till pride and worse ambition threw me down– Warring in Heaven against Heaven’s matchless King!– Ah, wherefore? He deserved no such return– From me, who created what I was– In that bright eminence, and with his good– Upbraided none; (ll 40-46)

“Myself am Hell”

In the passage starting around line 69 shows that Satan is still proud. Too proud.

He knows he could have God’s mercy, yet he rejects it.

All he has to do is submit to God’s will and he could be reinstated in Heaven, and he refuses.

No hope means no fear

In line line 108, Satan gives up hope for redemption, and this frees him to do all evil.– All good to me is lost;– Evil, be thou my good: by thee at least– Divided empire with Heaven’s king I hold

(ll 109-111)

Satan blames God

Satan never takes responsibility for his own actions.

His temptation of Man is God’s fault.– Thank him who puts me, loath, to this revenge– On you, who wrong me not, for him who wronged.

Lines 386-87