The Fall of Satan from Paradise Lost

1
The Fall of Satan from Paradise Lost

• John Milton

2
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

3
Overview

• Of Mans 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

4
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

5
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

6
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

7
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 pride
• Had cast him out from Heaven, with his host
• Of rebel angels (33-38).
• Satan corrupted Gods 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

8
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 aim
• Against the throne and monarchy of God,
• Raised impious was in Heaven and battle proud
• With vain attempt.(39-44)

9
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

10
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)

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Hell

• Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
• And rest can never dwell, hope never comes
• That comes to all but torture without end
• Still urges
• Such place Eternal Justice had prepared
• For those rebellious, here their prison ordained
• In utter darkness, and their portion set
• As 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

12
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

13
Satan

• Bemoans their place in Hell
• If thou beest he- but O how fallen! How
  changed
• From him, who in the happy realm of light
• Clothed with transcendent brightness didst
  outshine
• Myriads 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 seest
• From what height fallen! (84-91)
• Tells Beelzebub he has been transformed for the
  worse by Gods punishment
• Mourns heaven when he sees the state of Beelzebub
  
• Does not repent for his rebellion

14
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

15
Satan

• Sees himself as the enemy of God
• Yet not for those,
• Nor what the potent Victor in his rage
• Can else inflict, do I repent or change,
  (95-97).
• Innumerable forces
• Two powers
• Engage in dubious battle
• Heaven as a lost field
• God is Satans lost foe
• eternal war (93-124)
• Presents them as his army
• Diction represents war

16
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

17
Satan

• Will continue was for eternity
• since by fate the strength of gods
• And 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 resolve
• To 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)

18
Satan

• Will wage war against Gods tyranny
• God in heaven rejoicing
• Take action once again

19
Beelzebubs 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).

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Beelzebub's Response

• Doubtful
• Can we overpower God and his supremacy?
• Realizes the horridness of their situation

21
Beelzebub's Response

• That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,
• Or do him mightier service as his thralls
• By right of war, whateer 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).

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Beelzebubs Response

• Questions if they are still slaves of Gods
• Their punishment in hell is to do Gods bidding
  in hell

23
Satans 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 Gods goodness

24
Satans Response

• Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild,
• The seat of desolation, void of light,
• Save what the glimmering of these livid flames
• Casts pale and dreadful? (180-183)
• Satans perspective of Hell
• He realizes the horror of it and is repelled by
  it

25
Satans Response

• And reassembling our afflicted powers,
• Consult how we may henceforth most offend
• Our 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)
• Satans plan of action
• Seek vengeance for the offence

26
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 den
• By ancient Tarus held, or that sea-beast
• Leviathan, which God od all his works
• Created hugest that swim the ocean stream.
  (195-202)
• Indicates the hugeness and vastness of Satan
• Compared to Titans and giants from Greek
  Mythology

27
Satan

• this is the seat
• That we must change for Heaven, this mournful
  gloom
• For that celestial light? Be it so, since he
• Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid
• What shall be right farthest from him is best,
• Whom reason hath equaled, force hath made supreme
• Above his equals. (243-249)
• Accepts his new placement and wants to reign
  sovereign
• Happy to have his own kingdom to rule
• Proves he is Gods equal
• Pride
• Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven
  (263)
• Eager to rally his forces- needs support to rebel
  against God

28
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)