1st reading: Paradise Lost

From what I have read so far of Paradise Lost, I have found it to be very interesting. Milton starts out the poem showing great respect for God and all of the miraculous things that he has done. I thought it was kindof strange that he really just listed alot of familiar stories from the Bible since God obviously already knows these, but maybe they're just part of his prayer. I like that he draws the comparison between the God that helped Moses on the mount Sinai and that he is the same God that Milton is trying to address right here. He seems a little arrogant when he is talking about how he is going to write a poem greater than anyone's ever before him.....but I don't know...maybe he has good reason to be? I really like all of the evil language that Milton uses when he describes Satan and the process of becoming Lucifer to what he is now. It kindof reminded me of Othello when Milton talks about the fact that by God allowing Lucifer to go on living in hell rather than just killing him, he is actually making him suffer more. Those lines are similar to when Othello tells Iago that it would be more desirable to die, which is why he just stabbed him. Othello kindof hopes that Iago will go on living and suffering in the same way the God wants Lucifer to suffer and regret his decisions. I also liked the contrast that Milton made when he described hell and its absence of anything good as the complete opposite of heaven. The images that Milton puts into the reader's head when describing all of these seemingly intangible things is very helpful.