1. The Fall of Satan
from Paradise Lost
John Milton
From the www.mpsaz.org website

2. Paradise Lost
Book I
• Invocation and introduction of poem's theme
• An account of Satan's revolt and expulsion from
Heaven
• Dialogue between Satan and Beelzebub
• The other devils' rallying around Satan - the
demonic host listed
• Satan's speech to the legions (about the
creation of man)
• The building of Pandemonium

3. Overview
“Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and, all our woe,
With the loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,(1-5)
– refers to original sin of Adam and Eve
– brought humans death for the first time

4. Overview
“Sing, Heavenly Muse…
That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed
In the beginning how the Heavens and Earth
Rose out of Chaos…” (6-10)
– not asking for tradition Greek muse
– asking for Holy Spirit to inspire him as he did
Moses to write the Ten Commandments and
Genesis

5. Overview
• His poem will be better than all other
classical writings
• Reason for writing
– “And justify the ways of God to men” (26).
• Why God permits humans to suffer and die
– His poem will tell of the epic battle between
God and Lucifer

6. Disobedience of Adam and Eve
“Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view,
Nor the deep tract of Hell, say first what cause
Moved our grand parents in that happy state,
Favored of Heaven so highly, to fall off
From their Creator, and transgress his will
For one restraint” (27-32).
– God saw the transgression of Adam and Eve
– Questions how this came about

7. Disobedience of Adam and Eve
“Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?
The infernal Serpent, he who was, whose guile,
Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother of mankind, what time his pride
Had cast him out from Heaven, with his host
Of rebel angels…” (33-38).
• Satan corrupted God’s plan out of vengeance
• God allows evil to exist in order that good may arise from it
• Satan thrown out of Heaven by God
• He is to blame for original sin

8. Satan
• He wanted to be like God
• Rebelled and was punished
“To set himself in glory above his peers,
He trusted to have equaled the Most High,
If he opposed; and with ambitious aim
Against the throne and monarchy of God,
Raised impious was in Heaven and battle proud
With vain attempt.”(39-44)

9. Satan and Hell
“Him the Almighty Power
Hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky
With hideous ruin and combustion down
To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
In adamantine chains and penal fire
Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms” (44- 49).
• Thrown out into depths of hell by God

10. Hell
• Milton uses darkness and imagery to
indicate the horridness of Hell
– “fiery gulf (52)
– “dungeon horrible” (61)
– “No light, but rather darkness visible” (63)
– “discover sights of woe” (64)

11. Hell
“Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still urges…
Such place Eternal Justice had prepared
For those rebellious, here their prison ordained
In utter darkness, and their portion set
As far removed from God and the light of Heaven” (65-73).
• Physical torment- fiery yet dark
• Physiological pain
– “doom” “Lost happiness” “dismay”
• Eternal punishment
• Light and dark imagery

12. Beelzebub
“He soon discerns, and weltering by his side
One next himself in power, and next in crime,
Long after known in Palestine, and named
Beelzebub” (78-81).
• Second in power under Satan

13. Satan
• Bemoans their place in Hell
“’If thou beest he- but O how fallen! How changed
From him, who in the happy realm of light
Clothed with transcendent brightness didst outshine
Myriads though bright- if he whom mutual league,
United thoughts and counsels, equal hope
And hazard in the glorious enterprise,
Joined with me once, now misery hath joined
In equal ruin: into what pit thou seest
From what height fallen!” (84-91)
• Tells Beelzebub he has been transformed for the worse by
God’s punishment
• Mourns heaven when he sees the state of Beelzebub
• Does not repent for his rebellion

14. Satan
“…so much the stronger proved
He with his thunder; and till then who knew
The force of those of those dire arms?” (92-94).
• Did not realize the strength and power of God

15. Satan
• Sees himself as the enemy of God
“Yet not for those,
Nor what the potent Victor in his rage
Can else inflict, do I repent or change,” (95-97).
“Innumerable forces”
Two “powers”
Engage in “dubious battle”
Heaven as a “lost field”
God is Satan’s “lost foe”
“eternal war” (93-124)
• Presents them as his army
• Diction represents war

16. Satan
“the unconquerable will,
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield:
And what is else not to be overcome?” (106-109)
• Driving force for Satan
• God was upset by the battle- he was uncertain
about the outcome

17. Satan
• Will continue was for eternity
“since by fate the strength of gods
And this emerged substance cannot fail,
Since through experience of this great event,
In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced,
We may with more successful hope resolve
To wage by force or guile eternal war
Irreconcilable to our grand Foe,
Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy,
Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven.” (116-124)

18. Satan
• Will wage war against God’s tyranny
• God in heaven rejoicing
• Take action once again

19. Beelzebub’s Response
“That with sad overthrow and foul defeat
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host
In horrible destruction laid thus low,
As far as gods and heavenly essences
Can perish…/
Here swallowed up up in endless misery.”
(135-142).

20. Beelzebub's Response
• Doubtful
• Can we overpower God and his
supremacy?
• Realizes the horridness of their situation

21. Beelzebub's Response
“That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,
Or do him mightier service as his thralls
By right of war, whate’er his business be,
Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire,
Or do his errands in the gloomy deep?
What can it then avail, though yet we feel
Strength undiminished, or eternal being
TO undergo eternal punishment?” (148-155).

22. Beelzebub’s Response
• Questions if they are still slaves of God’s
• Their punishment in hell is to do God’s
bidding in hell

23. Satan’s Response
• “to be weak is miserable” (157)
• “To do aught good never will be our task,
But ever to do ill our sole delight
As being the contrary to his high will
Whom we resist” (158-162).
– Only commit deeds of evil
– God cannot control that
– His evil will equal God’s goodness

24. Satan’s Response
“Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild,
The seat of desolation, void of light,
Save what the glimmering of these livid flames
Casts pale and dreadful?” (180-183)
• Satan’s perspective of Hell
• He realizes the horror of it and is repelled by
it

25. Satan’s Response
“And reassembling our afflicted powers,
Consult how we may henceforth most offend
Our Enemy, our own loss how repair,
How overcome this dire calamity,
What reinforcement we may gain from hope,
If not, what resolution from despair.” (186-191)
• Satan’s plan of action
• Seek vengeance for the offence

26. Satan
“Prone on the flood, extended long and large,
Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge
As whom the fables name of monstrous size,
Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove,
Briareos or Typhon whom led the den
By ancient Tarus held, or that sea-beast
Leviathan, which God od all his works
Created hugest that swim the ocean stream.” (195-202)
• Indicates the hugeness and vastness of Satan
• Compared to Titans and giants from Greek Mythology

27. Satan
“…this is the seat
That we must change for Heaven, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he
Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid
What shall be right: farthest from him is best,
Whom reason hath equaled, force hath made supreme
Above his equals.” (243-249)
• Accepts his new placement and wants to reign sovereign
• Happy to have his own kingdom to rule
• Proves he is God’s equal
• Pride
• “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven” (263)
• Eager to rally his forces- needs support to rebel against God

28. Epic Simile
• Something in the poem is compared to
something quite outside the poem
– Compares Satan to Titans and Greeks from
mythology (196-208)
– Compares his landing to smashing of a hill or
volcano which create an explosive force
(230-237)