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Hanky-Pankage

Satan has a very interesting set of family members. From my interpretation, Sin was born of Satan's mind which makes sense. The best part is that Sin came from Satan's mind and is technically not one of God's creations, merely a by-product. Sin is Satan's Idea and child. Even more interesting, Death itself is born from Satan and Sin.  The bible says that Sin and Death came into the world after Adam and Eve ate the apple, but it never says from where they originally came from. On top of that, Death and Sin create monsters together, so Milton tries to say that Satan, Sin, and Death created everything evil and terrible in the world.

Reading 5- Demon Council

In the demon council, Satan speaks first, saying that their loss makes them stronger and will make their victory that much more satisfying. He says that they have to unite against God and invites his followers to speak their opinions.  Moloch speaks first, promoting full-force immediate attack on God and Heaven. His words and argument are made forceful and less appealing because of his uncontrollable and self-consuming hatred towards God and his inclination for brute force.  Belial speaks next. He argues for no war at all but waiting in Hell. He says that they will get to used to the fires of Hell and will prefer them over the wrath of God. He basically says that they are lucky that their punishment was not more severe.  Belial's argument seems more reasonable and appealing than Moloch's because of his eloquent speech, but is unsatisfying because of his laziness and lack of motivation for anything.  Mammon speaks last and has the most persuasive and logical argument. He seems almost more motivated and moving than Satan because of the strength and steadfastness of his position. Unlike Satan, he does not change his mind or switch opinions in order to manipulate the other demons. He simply says what he believes, so one might even say he's more driven and more powerful than Satan.

Reading 4

In this section, Satan is replying to Beelzebub's uncertainty and concern with their decision to revolt against God.  I found Satan's logic very contradictory and almost amusing.  He talks about how all the demons must decide on how best to take over Heaven and overthrow God. But then he says how Hell is better than Heaven because they cannot sink any lower and do not have to live under the control of God.  He also reminds me of Iago how he changes his opinions and makes his "friends" believe certain things. He says that they should vote on whether they should fight head on or fight through tricks and deception then says that deception is definitely the right choice. But he does it in such a sneaky way that makes his followers almost think that the idea was their own.

first impressions

I hate to say it but after reading the his first speech I'm starting to like Satan. He doesn't seem to base his logic on reason but he definitely has guts. To sum up what he said as I would have said it: "He beat us, so what? I don't care what he does I refuse to bow to him. I'd rather be here than go crawling back to Him." Its not the smartest thing to say, but he certainly does make an impression.

Reading 1

Milton is calling upon the Muse to help him write of humankind’s beginning, such as man’s first sin in the Garden of Eden. Milton seeks to surpass the epic poems of all before him, and he calls on the Muse to help him, like the Muse helped the shepherd teach “…the chosen Seed/ In the Beginning how the Heav’ns and Earth/ Rose out of Chaos” (book 1, line 8-9). The Muse is able to tell him the story of what the beginning was like, as the Muse was there to witness it, and Milton is only calling upon the Muse to help him write the book so as he may show the ways of God to humankind. Milton introduces Satan by blaming him for Adam and Eve’s temptation to disobey the Creator in the Garden of Eve. Therefore starts an account of how Satan is cast out of heaven and attempts to go to war with God. Though he has lost, he only begins to feel the pain of having lost the goodness of heaven and the forever lasting pain that is to stay with him in the place he must dwell, which is so unlike heaven.

reading 1

The first thing I noticed when reading the summary on the title page of book one was that Satan is referred to as an archangel, a rank equal to Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. This strikes me as something that goes along with Iago. God, like Othello, must hold Satan in some high esteem and probably trusts him as a well qualified adviser. As for the rest of the reading, Milton invokes God as his muse to write his epic, and he describes Hell itself as the defeated army rests. The one question I have is probably off-topic, but how can spirits wage war against each other if they cannot die? I suppose torture could be an option but it would have to last forever because time means nothing to someone who does not age. I'm just a little unclear about that.

Reading 1

It starts out describing the story of Adam and Eve, and it relates the act of eating the Forbidden Fruit to Pandora opening her box—both of which brought all the death and woe into our world.  Then it describes how Jesus brought humanity back into the favor of God with a reference to how Aeneas, while founding Rome, brought the Trojans into good (or better) terms with the Latin gods and goddesses.  Then Milton directly invokes the muse while referring to the creation of the world and the Ten Commandments.  He boasts how his epic poem will become very famous and reach previously unattained heights (meant here as a pun to mean levels of mastery in poetry and as the literal sense of height because it will fly over Aonian’s Mountain).  Then he goes on and describes his goal to explain God’s actions to men which mirrors Virgil’s goal in the Aeneid (Muse, remember the causes for me, with what offense to her divinity or grieving over what did the queen of gods drive a man to undergo so many misfortunes to undertake so many labors).  Then he explains how it was the Devil’s influence over Adam and Eve that caused them to betray God.  The Devil once was an angel, but his pride had cast him out of Heaven; therefore, in an attempt to match his glory with God’s glory, he fought against God in a large war.  The Devil terrorizes men on Earth as well but not as long for he is tormented by the memories of lost happiness and now everlasting pain.  Then it goes on to describe Hell as a large furnace where inside the light only reveals darkness.  In Hell, this darkness visible serves only to illuminate sights of woe; sorrow; places where peace, rest, and hope are never found; and where torture never ends.  It also introduces Beelzebulb who is Satan’s right-hand man.