Paradise Lost
John Milton, the narrator of his poem “Paradise Lost,” begins the poem by describing “Mans First Disobedience” (Milton, line 1) which is the story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Milton then asks a Muse what led Adam and Eve to commit a sin against God. The Muse responds by saying that “Th’ infernal Serpent,” (34) also known as Satan, misguided Adam and Eve after God “cast him out from Heav’n, with all his Host / Of Rebel Angels” (37–38). Satan along with his followers attempted to overthrow God; however, God exiled them “to bottomless perdition, there to dwell / In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire” (47–48). The place they are banished to is more commonly known as Hell. In the lake of fire where Satan lies, he talks to another fallen angel named Beelzebub. Satan reveals that although they did not win the battle against God, he does not regret his rebellion against the “Tyranny of Heav’n” (124). After nine days, the two choose to free themselves from “the Lake with liquid fire” (229) and travel to dry land. Satan then expresses that he would rather “reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n” (263) because he can be free from God’s control. They then call the other fallen angels to rise from the fiery lake to discuss resuming the fight against God. Together, they all build a temple that they name Mulciber where they must shrink in size to enter. Once inside, they sit “on golden seats” (796) and discuss their next steps.
In book two of “Paradise Lost” by John Milton, Satan opens the poem by addressing his followers in the temple they built called Mulciber. He encourages them to continue the fight against God by asking whether “open Warr or covert guile” (Milton, line 41) will be the best approach. Moloc, one of Satan’s followers, votes for open war. They want to take the weapons of torture used in Hell and use them against God in battle. Another follower named Belial, whom the narrator describes as “more graceful and humane” (109), suggests that they should not risk battling God because he can make their situation worse if they lose. The next speaker, Mammon, expresses their objection to returning to Heaven and submitting to God by stating, “how wearisom / Eternity so spent in worship paid / To whom we hate” (247–249). He then suggests that they make a home in Hell. Beelzebub then states that Hell is their “dungeon, not [their] safe retreat / Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt / From Heav’ns high jurisdiction” (317–319). He then suggests they invade “another World, the happy seat / Of some new Race call’d Man” (347–348) instead of attacking God again. Here, they can turn inhabitants against God’s will and destroy God’s plan for his new society. The rest agree, and they begin destroying and exploring Hell. Later, Satan meets his daughter and mother of his son, Sin, and his son, Death. He has no remembrance of their existence, but he convinces Sin to open Hell’s gate by offering to take her and Death with him to disrupt God’s new society. Together, they find Earth and build “a Bridge of wondrous length / From Hell” (1028) to Earth so that the demons can travel back and forth between the two places.
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