Describe satans character in book i of paradise lost by john milton. After satan has in vited who can advise, may speak, moloch urges. Here, he importantly suggests that achieving victory is not necessarily as important as being really annoying. He opens the floor, and the prowar devil moloch speaks first. At the very least they might disturb the peace of heaven and wound god on his throne, and so have revenge if not victory. But, moreover, the attitude toward violence exhibited by moloch reveals a particular type of evil. Joseph summers observes perceptively that beelzebubs long speech in book ii. The consultation begun, satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of heaven. He reasons that nothing, even their destruction, could be worse than hell, and so they have nothing to lose by another attack. The second book of paradise lost, by john milton, opens at the council of war amongst the demons of hell. Book i of john miltons epic poem paradise lost describes satan as utterly dismayed to be thrown form the realm of light to a. In his speech, each devil reveals both the characteristics of his personality and the type of evil he represents.
Lines 688 through 703 in book ii of milton s paradise lost mark not only death s first narrative, however it is also satan and deaths first interaction with each other, not as father and son, but as enemies attempting to protect their throne in hell. He is for continued war and unconcerned about the consequences. Moloch, demon warrior, passionately advocates for open warfare. He says that now they must debate about the most effective way to fight god. The first minion to speak is moloch, the strongest and the fiercest spirit 44. Beelzebub then stands to speak and the crowd falls respectfully silent. Moloch finishes his speech with the flame of revenge still burning. The first speaker is moloch, who was one of the fiercest fighters in the war. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
For example, moloch, the first to speak, is the unthinking man of action. Moloch argues for open war, as he reasons that nothing not even total annihilation could be worse than the devils current state in hell, so they have nothing to lose by fighting the torturer god and trying the weapons of hell against him. Summary at the start of book ii, satan sits on his throne like a middle eastern. He contradicts molochs advice, and suggests that god can always punish them in a worse. The first part of book 2 of john milton s paradise lost tells of a great debate in hell among satan and his minions concerning what should be done now that they have been cast from heaven. Death is described as a goblin, full of wrath and recognizes satan has the traitor angel who conjured, or who conspired to empty heaven of a third of its angels. Like diomedes in the iliad, he is not adept in speech, but he does know how to fight. Two advocate another attack on heaven, albeit by very different methods, while two advise against it. Paradise lost, answering moloch, belial, and mammon, saves the situation. The second section deals with satans voyage out of hell with sin and death the only extended allegory in paradise lost. The speaker continues the poem by describing the scene after molochs speech. On the other hand, belial, the sarcastic demon, uses asperity to criticize molochs argument. Need help with book 2 in john miltons paradise lost. Satan and his lieutenant awaken in the lake of fire 50282.
Though inaccessible, his fatal throne, which if not victory is yet revenge 2. The second book of paradise lost, by john milton, opens at the. Moloch, upon getting his chance to speak, wastes no time in expressing his. An account of satans revolt and expulsion from heaven dialogue between satan and beelzebub the other devils rallying around satan the demonic host listed satans speech to the legions about the creation of man the building of pandemonium inspired by mammon book 2 breaks down into three principal sections. Introduction to the poem, and first invocation 1 b. Moloch was one of the fiercest fighters in the war in heaven, and he anxiously pleads for another open war, this time armed with the weapons of hell. He concludes his speech, advising a dismissal of all ideas about war against heaven. A summary of book ii in john miltons paradise lost. The first part of book 2 of john miltons paradise lost tells of a great debate in. Note that moloch and belial reappear in book 2, where they are more. Four of the devils speak moloch, belial, mammon, and beelzebub with. A third proposal is preferd, mentiond before by satan, to search the truth of that prophesie or tradition in heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferiour to themselves, about this time to be created. Whether of open warr or covert guile, we now debate.
1416 4 1522 1336 751 1409 555 288 126 449 402 633 1499 1108 317 309 679 1540 9 162 456 1159 1508 467 1603 570 1083 1157 373 1331 1054 645 1229 1269 850 208 171 301 587