preview

Analysis Of John Milton 's ' Paradise Lost '

Decent Essays

Satan is the first figure to speak in Milton’s poems in Paradise Lost. His words to Beelzebub are the sort of utterances a politician would make to his party members after a defeat. It combines convincement with the virtue of emotional manipulation. Satan’s words shift like a dream from expression of grief and sympathy to the restatement of united defiance, to which Beelzebub replies unconsciously. Milton creates this shift so subtly that it is hardly noticed and highlights through this that the gift of the gab—the talent of persuasive speech—is virtually the only resource that Satan possesses. However, the gift of the conversation is extensive and enough for Satan to carry on and try to meet his motives. It earns Satan the allegiance of …show more content…

That same line is brought out as a simile to ironically depict Satan as not a man moved by zeal for the common good but rather a self-seeking immortal stimulated by resentment to destroy virtuousness. On line 678 of the same book, Milton uses the term “Tempter” whereby it is Satan addressing the fruit before addressing Eve directly.
Milton deems the mutual goodness is of outstanding significance. His opposition to kings relies on a principle that states can hardly benefit from monarchies, which are dangerously susceptible to the power held by a faulty individual. God is the only perfect king and thus no human being ought to take over God’s empty throne. Milton is very aware of the ways in which a naked ambition would corrupt republics. He illustrates Satan as deeply cut off by his desires since he cannot put up with the common good afore his desires. An impression of frustration is thus brought out. Satan is frustrated, as he cannot achieve what he desires.
Satan always demonstrates manipulation. Indeed, this is his instrumental trait when he makes speeches to other individuals. He gains an inconspicuous supremacy in the first disagreement between the wicked person in Book II by merely being the last to speak after they halt their debate. With monarchial pride, Satan claims the position of traitorous champion for fall of man (II, 428). Imperial sovereignty in his own monarchy,

Get Access