A Just Judge needs no Jury // Ian Blair

             Ok, things got REAL in Books IV & V! The confrontation between Gabriel & Satan in the latter half of Book IV is what I want to highlight specifically for this post, especially its climax. But first, we need to set the scene…

            After Gabriel is informed of an evil spirit that has breached the perimeter of Eden, he dispatches himself & an entire unit to sweep the entire garden until they find this intruder. Two angels (Ithuriel & Zephon) are dispatched to check on Adam & Eve, as they may be the target of whatever business this evil presence has to do with Eden. After Satan is found out and taken to Gabriel, an argument ensues between the seraphs. In said argument, Satan pushes the patience of Gabriel to its breaking point, & the forces of angels & Satan nearly come to blows before the King of Kings himself steps in to halt the escalation of conflict. Obviously, God was going to assert his presence at some point, spare for some dialogue here & there, but the way he chooses to resolve the high-tension situation in the garden is a bit…unexpected:

 

“Th’ Eternal to prevent such horrid fray

 

Hung forth in heav’n His golden scales, yet seen

 

Betwixt Astraea and the Scorpion sign,

 

Wherein all things created first He weighed. . .

 

now ponders all events,

 

Battles and realms. In these He put two weights,

 

The sequel each of parting and of fight.

 

The latter quick up flew and kicked the beam” (Milton, 4.996-1004).

 

The character of God in this “epic” so far has seemed like a distant mediator in his role (almost like a judge), and Milton specifically uses his involvement here as a means to show that even in a poem, God still has sovereign dominion over everything & everyone. Milton is also establishing God’s character, as in line with Biblical accounts, as being slow to anger. As for the other major players; Satan’s spitefulness & arrogance are on full display at this point in the plot, & Gabriel seems to be really straight to the point in how he treats his position. Book V does a good enough job filling in the gaps as to how the demonic rebellion started, but I feel as though a lengthy recount is a bit overdone (just my personal opinion). Regardless, it will prove intriguing how the dream of Eve is interpreted going forward, and when exactly Milton will end up initiating the fall of man into the story. What are some thoughts you had of this week’s reading?

 

I commented on Emma Kate's & Emmett's posts.

Comments

  1. Emma LandrySeptember 13, 2021 at 9:59 PM

    I agree with you about how Raphael's retelling of the heavenly battle seems a bit lengthy. It is drawn out to the point where I was beginning to forget who was telling this account and what was happening before he began speaking with Adam. However, it is still interesting to get some context about the specifics of the rebellion. Also, I love the pure power of how God provides the visual of the scale to dispel the conflict. No words are needed, and the message is clearer than ever. Satan knows it is time to back down.

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  2. Emma DSeptember 13, 2021 at 11:07 PM

    Though I completely agree and love how Milton demonstrates the power of God, I can't help but wonder why Satan backs down and Gabriel doesn't pursue at the end of Book 4. Biblically and storywise, it may make sense, but logically why didn't the angels just capture him? I also found it interesting how in 4.1011 Gabriel says, "read thy lot in yon celestial sign". Is Milton suggesting that the moving of the planets and stars might somehow be related? Why do you think Satan backed down after he looked up? (4.1013) There seems to be a bit of mystery to how God acts in this epic, and I wish I understood what Milton is trying to suggest with these celestial movements.

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