Friday, July 19, 2019
Miltonââ¬â¢s Paradise Lost :: Paradise Lost
Miltonââ¬â¢s Paradise Lost Critics of the Romantic Period have claimed that John Milton was unconsciously allied with the forces of evil. In Paradise Lost Miltonââ¬â¢s accounts of ââ¬Å"Devils & Hellâ⬠are much more elaborate and awe inspiring than those of ââ¬Å"Angels & God.â⬠Hell and Satan are portrayed extensively whereas the reader is given brief and inconclusive glimpses of Heaven. The apparent dichotomy is explained by William Blake: ââ¬Å"The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels & Gods, and at liberty when of Devils & Hell, is because he was a true Poet and of the Devilââ¬â¢s Party without knowing it.â⬠Miltonââ¬â¢s adherence to orthodox views resulted in an uninspired portrait of Heaven. Hell, in contrast, was greatly developed; the vivid imagery of the volcanic and desolate terrain gave Hell a genuine ambience. Milton described Hell as a ââ¬Å"lake of fireâ⬠(280) and commented on the ââ¬Å"Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous fireâ⬠(77). He indicated that darkness is given off instead of light: ââ¬Å"No light, but rather darkness visibleâ⬠(63). The devils, especially Satan, were characterized in more detail than the angels or God. The first two books of Paradise Lost featured the fallen angelsââ¬â¢ debate regarding their future plans. As a ââ¬Å"true Poetâ⬠Milton sought to appeal to the emotions of his readers. The natural human inclination towards evil inspired Miltonââ¬â¢s powerful description of Hell as opposed to his unimaginative view of Heaven. Milton held strongly antipathetic views with regard to tyrannical authorities. He created numerous pamphlets to protest the regime of unjust rulers such as King Charles I. Blake suggested that Miltonââ¬â¢s opposition to tyranny was also applicable to the authority of God. Both Satan and Milton expressed similar rebellious sentiments. In Paradise Lost, Satan speaks of Godââ¬â¢s unjust rule, which parallels Miltonââ¬â¢s philosophy regarding tyrannical princes and kings of his day. For example, Satan says to his followers that ââ¬Å"All is not lost; the unconquerable Will / And study of revenge, immortal hate / And courage never to submit or yieldâ⬠(106-108).
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