Is Milton Secretly, Subversively, or Unconsciously “of the Devil’s Party” in Paradise Lost free essay sample

In his work, Milton represents the events of the Creation and the Fall of Man, but he focuses more on Satan’s actions rather than on those of or Adam and Eve. In trying to make his poem sound more tragic, assuming that that was his intention, Milton consciously placed Satan at the centre of the poem, making him the hero, or more accurately, the anti-hero, and turning Satan into a metaphor for the ultimate sinner. In all epic poems, the hero is placed at the center of reader’s attention, and Milton places his readers’ interests in Satan’s actions. Satan’s speeches take over most of the work’s space mainly in Books I and II, leaving the impression that he is the most important character in the poem, and demonstrating his power of persuasion and subtlety by commanding and rousing his troops to action. His influence is also perceived in Eve’s temptation. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Milton Secretly, Subversively, or Unconsciously â€Å"of the Devil’s Party† in Paradise Lost? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He persuades Eve to eat the apple although she knows it is a sinful action. At the same time, this â€Å"hero† conveys certain elements of the classical tragedy, his tragic fate. Satan’s desire to destroy Adam and Eve results in his own destruction. He has a main flow: he never recognizes his limitations: God is the creator, he is overpowerful, nobody can neither reduce nor exceed his power, and this negligence is what finally destroys him. Milton reversed the epic conventions in order to convey his own insight of the Christian conception. He gave Satan the position of an anti-hero in order to destroy him since he should be held to account for his own actions. The feeling that Satan is unable to recognize his flaws and is eager to take revenge on human beings in heaven just because he is jelous of them is reflected in the poem; he never considers the scope of his actions. God, Milton conveys in his poem, created human and angelic beings who have the freedom to choose between obedience or rebellion, good or evil. Thus, in Book III, God states that they are free, and they can do whatever they want, but if they commit sins, they themselves cause their fall since they are responsible for their own actions: I form’d them free, and free they must remain, Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain’d Thir freedom: they themselves ordain’d thir fall. (124-128) In this way, Satan stands as a methapor for the ultimate sinner: the human being who acts on his own will refuses God’s forgiveness and salvation, that is, he would have repeated Satan’s sins and, in this way, he would have lost his opportunity of enjoying eternal life in heaven next to the Almighty, and consequently, this person deserves Satan’s fate. Satan’s speeches and actions take over most of the poem’s lines. Readers have full awareness of his flaws and impending doom, that is why they are drawn to this anti-hero, whose sins are the most realistic and unforgettable experience in the poem since he represents real human life. However, Milton is criticizing this attitude by implicitely stating that whoever commits flaws such as those of Satan, deserves Satan’s destiny, and this is why Satan is given a prominent place in Paradise Lost. WC: 632