Paradise Lost Analysis - 1958 Words

The Renaissance era represents a complete break with the Middle Ages on a political, philosophical, scientifical and theological scale. Indeed, the discovery of new territories and the expeditions of explorers such as Francis Drake, the resurgence of classic writtings, the new scientific outbreaks of Copernicus, Newton and Galilei as well as the Protestant reformation led by Luther and his 95 Theses, triggered a will for knowledge and a quest for truth, thus putting an end to the intellectual hegemony of the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe. Intellectuals of this era began to think on mankind, looking for answers outside of the Religious constraints. Written during this context of political and religious upheaval, Paradise Lost, an†¦show more content†¦First, Milton depicts the snake which Satan is possessing, as an incredibly beautiful animal. The main strategy of Satan to try to corrupt the naive mind of Eve is to appear as a magnificent snake. According to the narr ator, his physical appearance is so pleasing that never a snake will be as beautiful (on verse 504 â€Å"pleasing was his shape, and lovely, never since a serpent lovelier†). To describe the snake, the narrator use the lexical field of precious material: â€Å"carbuncle his eyes† on verse 500, â€Å"neck of verdent gold† on verse 501. Here Satan seems to have chosen a snake whose appearance can attract Eve only because his similitude with precious material. In a kind of materialist temptation, he tries to appeal to Eve inner sin of cupidity to seduce her. But there is something paradoxical in the way the snake is depicted as a beautiful creature. Indeed, the snake is often assimilated with death, the venom of some species of snakes such as the cobra can kill a man in less than one hour. It also an animal that generate instinctive fear in most human (and occurence of Ophidiophobia can be found everywhere). Here death and beauty become assimilated in one animal. I t can thus be perceived as personification of the treachery of satan: behind the beaty of his rethoric, of his discourse hides a terrible fates, the banishment of Man from Heaven. This can also underline the interest of humans for macabre, dark topics. We can see since the dawn of ageShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis Of Paradise Lost1224 Words   |  5 Pages In the epic poem Paradise Lost, author John Milton explores the familiar topics of Heaven and Hell, good and evil, God and Satan; but from a new and [for some] disturbing angle. Overflowing with an abundance of metaphors, extended similes, and countless other literary elements, combined with a rather understanding—and at times, compassionate—tone, Milton challenges society’s comfortable position surrounding the terrible figure of Satan. He treads ever so warily among this topic, but neverthelessRead MoreFeminist Analysis Of Paradise Lost By John Milton1124 Words   |  5 PagesAkejah McLaughlin Professor Jennifer Rohrer-Walsh HON 2010 7 November 2017 Feminist Analysis of Paradise Lost The Book of Genesis is an introductive biblical passage in the Old Testament that summarizes the creation of the universe, humanity, and the downfall of man. Writer John Milton gives an alternate version of this phenomenon in his epic Paradise Lost that illustrates not only the consequences of disobedience from God, but the distinct gender differences between men and women. Through theRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1852 Words   |  8 Pagesliterary merit. Do not merely summarize the plot. (2010 AP Literature and Composition) Disobedience and Exile an Analysis of Satan from Milton’s Paradise Lost John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost, has been the subject of criticism and interpretation through many years; these interpretations concur in that Adam and Eve are the sufferers of the poem, and it is their blight to lose Paradise because of their disobedience; however, their exile is merely a plight brought by Satan, and it is he who suffersRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost Essay2201 Words   |  9 PagesEve’s story arc in Paradise Lost, by John Milton, is a bildungsroman, the German word for a â€Å"novel of education.† Eve develops through the five stages of a typical bildungsroman character, as demonstrated by several different works from the genre. It will be useful to discuss several different bildungsromans from different eras and regions to fully determine the necessary characteristics of a bildungsroman, like The Odyssey, To Kill a Mockingbird, David Copperfield, Adventures of Huckleberry FinnRead More Analysis of Satans Speech in i n John Miltons Paradise Lost1010 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Satans Speech in Miltons Paradise Lost      Ã‚  Ã‚   John Miltons Paradise Lost is a work of enduring charm and value because of its theological conceptions, its beautiful language, and its updating of the epic to the modern worlds values. Book II of this epic poem opens with Satans speech to his minions in hell, proposing war on Heaven itself. In these first 44 lines, Satan is clearly established as epic hero, but at the same time is theologically/morally denounced by theRead MoreAnalysis Of John s Milton s Paradise Lost 1636 Words   |  7 Pages This is but one example of Satan’s sympathy toward humanity in Paradise Lost, John’s Milton’s epic poem that details Satan’s involvement in tempting Adam and Eve to rebel against God, and thus be punished with expulsion from the Garden of Eden. In both Christian and Jewish doctrines, Satan is often painted as a malevolent, treacherous being. Further, many readers often view Satan’s decision to tempt Adam and Eve in Paradise Lost as on e that comes from a place of cruelty rather than concern. InRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1606 Words   |  7 PagesIn books one, two, four and nine of Paradise Lost, Milton portrays Satan as heroic, introducing freedom and reason to the minds and lives of humanity. Satan allows his subservient fallen angels, as well as Adam and eve to recognize authority, reason and the true meaning of freedom. The beginning of the story is told through Satan’s point of view, making him the first empathetic character the reader is introduced to. From the very beginning of Book One, Satan explains how him and other fellow angelsRead MoreAnalysis Of John Orwell s Paradise Lost 882 Words   |  4 Pagesrecognize multiple examples of conventions in different texts. While each text may not have the same message, they all utilize epic conventions to help communicate a specific message or lesson. In Paradise Lost, Milton effectively uses the conventions of epics to justify the ways of God to humanity. Paradise Lost includes most if not all of the conventions of epics, however several conventions in particular are the ones that best communicate Milton s message. The first convention is a legendary hero whoRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Adam And Eve In Paradise Lost1567 Words   |  7 PagesOne of Milton’s most compelling interpretations in Paradise Lost and it’s the story o f the creation involve its very first embodiments of mankind, Adam and Eve. The poem’s first depiction of Adam and Eve in their unfallen paradise accentuates their nobility, dignity and perfection, their unfallen aristocratic posture as they rule over the sacred garden of Eden. In this state of innocence, Adam and Eve discover themselves and eventually one another, allowing them to explore and interpret their ownRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s The Of Paradise Lost 1122 Words   |  5 Pages Adam and Eve’s Dilemma in Eden The tragic fall of humankind could be considered heroic according to well-known author John Milton. Book IX of Paradise lost portrays this sense of heroism through the sins of Adam and Eve, but also creates a sense of controversy through the unexpected personality swap between Satan and of God. This literary work is a major contribution to biblical and literary history; therefore a reason why this work is still read today. The poem must turn tragic, and Milton asserts