The Power of Persuasion // Ian Blair

Paradise Lost’s first two books showed quite a bit of Satan’s character and some of his dialogue gives insight into his motivation for his next move after losing an unwinnable war. Milton’s version of the character seems to possess a fiery nature and a certain eloquence with words. Satan’s spitefulness is obvious as he laments his current situation and even calls for his troops to rally (11, 13), he even declares war on heaven itself (23)! It is clear that while the battle to claim heaven may lost, another battle may still be drawing near: the war over the souls of humanity is just beginning to take place…

 

“Space may produce new worlds whereof so rife

 

There went a fame◦ in Heav’n that He ere long

 

Intended to create and therein plant

 

A generation◦ whom His choice regard

 

Should favor equal to the sons of Heaven.

 

Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps

 

Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere. . .” (Milton, lines 650-656).

 

The demonic forces’ taking an approach of deceiving as many souls as they can gives some insight into their outlook on their current circumstances. First, they are resigned in the result of the original conflict (meaning that they accept that they can’t claim heaven), and the second is that they now wish to spoil the salvation/union of creation & creator on as large of a quantity as possible. The passages are a continuation of Revelation chapter seven, which mentions the angelic war and Satan’s fall. I am curious as to how Milton will carry the world-building elements he has established (such as spirits being able to assume either gender, or both at one time) while trying to keep a Biblical continuity.


I commented on Abigale Bell's & Ashlyn's posts.

Comments

  1. Haylee LyndSeptember 6, 2021 at 10:02 AM

    It is interesting that they accept they cannot overthrow Heaven and resort to simply perverting the good that God plans to do. However, they also seem to know they cannot completely pervert all good to evil, for God is so powerful that He will ultimately make good out of what they intended for evil. The human race is the demons only way to "ruin" God's plans, but they cannot do so as much as they hope to.

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