Distinguishing Between Bad and Evil
analytical Essay
1000 words
Distinguishing Between Bad and Evil
John Milton’s works Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle all have antagonists that are Milton’s representations of evil. However, when closely examining Satan in Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained it is easily recognizable that Satan’s character has taken a remarkable shift in that he no longer questions his immoral actions just like Comus never questions his actions in A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle. This close examination brings about the question what’s the difference between being an evil being and a person with bad character? This essay will evaluate how Satan in Paradise Lost is just a bad character whereas Satan in Paradise Regained and Comus are evil beings.
In Paradise Lost Milton creates Satan’s character with intricate conflicting dualities, ultimately creating him as both good and bad. Milton’s careful and complex development of Satan’s character both establishes and revokes the idea of Satan being good and bad. He uses this tension between Satan’s appealing attributes and bad qualities allowing the reader to be able to relate to Satan on some level. He is also using this tension to tempt the reader to give into Satan’s alluring speeches and challenging them to resist it. Satan is a great speaker; he knows exactly what everyone wants to hear. His speeches are so convincing that even the reader is tempted to fall into the notion that they are all just innocent victims: “Me though just right, and the fixed laws of heaven Did first create your leader, next free choice, with what besides, in counsel or in fight, Hath been achieved of merit, yet this loss” (ln 18-21) Even though Satan’s speeches are intriguing and sound wonderful they are embedded...
... middle of paper ...
... nothing other than pure evil. However, Satan in Paradise Regained does not share the same power in his speech and his evil is evident throughout the entire epic.
Milton has shifted from provoking the reader to relate to Satan and become sympathetic towards his cause in Paradise Lost to causing the reader to fear and disgust Satan in Paradise Regained to Comus in A Masque at Ludlow Castle who shares demonic qualities of both characters. Where Satan in Paradise Lost commits atrocities but questions them Satan in Paradise Regained and Comus commit these atrocities with no question and no concern for the moral selves. Milton uses the power of speech in order to teach his readers that one should not be fooled by charm, wit and should take notice to manipulation. This shift removes the question of what is evil, and replaces it with the recognition between bad and evil.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's works paradise lost, parade regained and a masque presented at ludlow castle all have antagonists that are milton’s representations of evil.
- Analyzes how milton creates satan's character with intricate conflicting dualities, ultimately creating him as both good and bad.
- Analyzes how milton has reconstructed satan in such a malicious manner that there leaves no room for question whether satan is bad or evil. his speeches are no longer alluring and infectious instead they reek with toxic flow.
- Analyzes how the speaker's speeches are so convincing that even the reader is tempted to fall into the notion that he only wishes to help the young girl even though they know his true intentions.
- Analyzes how milton constructs satan to teach the reader that they should be disgusted with the envy and familiarity they had for satan in paradise lost.
- Analyzes how milton uses the power of speech to teach his readers that one should not be fooled by charm, wit, and take notice to manipulation.
Related
- analytical
- Satan, the Core of Milton´s Paradise Lostanalytical essayThe great debate whether Satan is the hero of Milton’s Epic Poem, Paradise Lost, has been speculated for hundreds of years. Milton, a writer devoted to theology and the appraisal of God, may not have intended for his portrayal of Satan to be marked as heroic. Yet, this argument is valid and shares just how remarkable the study of literature can be. Milton wrote his tale of the fall of man in the 1674. His masterpiece is an example of how ideas of a society change with time. This is because it wasn’t until the 1800’s during the Romantic era, that people no longer saw the hero of literary works as perfect in every way. It started to become more popular to develop the flawed character similar to the ones written in the classics. A literary criterion that is based on a protagonist, who undergoes conflict on the outside and from within and is prevented by a specific flaw to accomplish their main goal, creates an epic Hero. In Paradise Lost, God does not face conflict because he is perfect and all-knowing, and Adam’s conflict is not presented from the very start, Satan’s is. Because Satan is the main character of the work and possesses qualities that would deem him heroic, such as his determination against tough odds, his ability to lead, and his human-like nature to error, he can be seen has the Hero of the famous poem.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's tale of the fall of man is an example of how ideas of a society change with time.
- Analyzes how satan's unwavering passion to defeat his all-mighty creator makes him the underdog that an audience cannot help but root for.
- Opines that satan's role in paradise lost makes the reader fear him rather than see him in the traditional religious way we are expected to see. god is the distant and powerful force that will reward those who follow his command.
- Analyzes how satan's heroic character provokes readers to think of a hero. he is benevolent and asks for volunteers to help implement the strategy.
- Analyzes how satan's self pride led to his jealousy of the son of god and his deceptive plots.
- Analyzes how satan's human-like struggles keep him a hero through the eyes of readers because they can relate.
- Analyzes how milton's readers see how highly satan sees himself and his army. he thinks of them as almost untouchable.
- Concludes that satan does fit the description of an epic hero. his actions do not have to be moral, in order to see him as a character that shows immense strife, great power and apparent flaws.
1302 wordsRead More - Satan In Paradise Lostanalytical essayHero can be distinct as an individual who is accepted or idealized for bravery, exceptional accomplishment, or dignified traits. On the other hand, Satan is known as the leader of all wickedness. With these descriptions in mind, one can determine that John Milton’s character, Satan, in Paradise Lost, is in fact the epic’s hero. Although non-traditional, one can determine that Satan is the epic hero because of textual evidence found in all twelve books of Paradise Lost. The implications implied throughout the twelve books of Paradise Lost entail Satan as the hero because of the information Milton provides to the reader about Satan’s actions and results thereof.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that john milton's character, satan, in paradise lost, is the epic hero because of textual evidence found in all twelve books of the novel.
- Concludes that milton provides his main character as a relative, relatable man as opposed to all other characters in paradise lost. satan's disposition and behaviorism are all very human.
- Analyzes how milton's first book, paradise lost, portrays satan as a confused, resentful man who feels the need to rebel against god.
- Analyzes the second act of rebellion committed by satan in the form of a serpent as he lures eve into digesting the fruit from the forbidden tree.
- Analyzes how the reader recognizes the account of satan through a lens that is rarely used. satan was the first and one of the only men to ever be bold enough to question the most almighty figure in our world.
858 wordsRead More - Milton’s Paradise Lostanalytical essaySince Paradise Lost is an epic, the reader is instinctively drawn to the search of deeds typical of a heroic figure that could be either legendary or based on real historic personages. However, Milton displays several characters that could perform that role, as all of them prove their heroic courage by accomplishing deeds of great valour. Satan is portrayed as a rebellious lord displaying energy and drive. That contrasts with the fact that he is the enemy of God and mankind, as his name in Hebrew indicates; ‘adversary’ (Loewenstein, 1993, p.58). In turn, God’s Son is the expected hero, responding to the admirable quality of classical heroes (Bradford, 2001, p.98), who redeems the world God had created from sin and sacrifices himself for mankind. Similarly, Adam and Eve heroically face the struggle of living in a fallen world infested by sin.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that this essay-like commentary aims to discuss how john milton's paradise lost (1667) conforms to the genre of epic or heroic poetry.
- Analyzes how milton's epic poem, paradise lost, depicts heroic deeds of great valour. satan is portrayed as a rebellious lord displaying energy and drive, while god’s son is the expected hero.
- Explains that milton's ambition was to write about things unattempted in prose or rhyme, and he achieved that by rewriting the book of genesis as if were, one of the greatest books in humankind history.
- Analyzes how the use of past tense and discourse markers is a formal feature distinctive of epics that is to be found in milton's work.
- Explains that in paradise lost readers are presented with the ideal of a conflict, but they do not appear in the hebrew bible, which actually says very little about lucifer.
- Analyzes how the classical period introduced heroic speeches to proclaim heroes' bravery. satan could be claimed to be the greatest of the fallen angels who faces god with his rhetorical skill.
- Analyzes how milton's depiction of satan as a courageous lord can be compared to classical heroes such as achilles in the iliad or turn
- Analyzes how digressions, epic similes and classical references are present in paradise lost.
- Analyzes how milton followed the classical format of collecting epics in books running into a thousand of lines. paradise lost is compiled in twelve books in the same manner as virgil’s aeneid.
- Analyzes how the influence of classical works is felt in the latinization as regards the word order and word choice.
- Analyzes how milton's poem follows the classical epics convention of stating the purpose and scope of the epic. biblical references to the old testament demonstrate milton’s puritan faith, and reveal the spirit guiding him is actually god.
- Analyzes how old english milton borrowed from this period’s epics the supernatural and evil powers that shape the action. the supernatural forces comprise god, his son, and the angels, while the evil power is embodied by satan, together with the devils.
- Analyzes how the relationship between satan and his army and god and angels bear resemblance to the hierarchy of the lords and followers found in old english epics. the interpolation of christian values within the pagan tradition and war elements is also gestured back in milton’s epic.
- Concludes that paradise lost encapsulates and recalls the traditions of the epic in ancient times while introducing at the same time his view and the one of his period, the renaissance.
- Explains that neo english word press (2014) "paradise lost": a classical epic.
1419 wordsRead More - Is Prometheus A Heroanalytical essayAs a period rift with anxiety over changes in faith and the subsequent loss of it, political climate of the time permeates in Milton's writings. Even though Satan is residing in hell, he is free to not worship God. Satan's mind is not only unconquerable and unconditionally opposed to God, but he also influences other minds to use their free will to oppose the will of God. This concurs with my claim that Satan's sinful acts are intentional, God's other creations, Adam and Eve made a mistake but they are repentant, whereas Satan's actions are calculated and meaningful. He is an eloquent orator; his power of persuasion is compelling. The two major events in the poem would never take place if not for his forceful sermons, he persuades the angels to rebel against God and he tempts Eve to eat the fruit. One leads to the damnation of all the angels who follow into his footsteps and the other leads the whole human race astray. Therefore evil is not an essential attribute, something existing in itself. It is not independent and exclusive from that which is good. Evil is rather something chosen, acting through free will in conscious opposition to God's
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the epic poem 'paradise lost' by 17th century poet john milton about the biblical story of god, satan, adam and eve and their abode in heaven.
- Analyzes how satan is the archetypal villain in this good versus evil story.
- Explains that the rebel titan, prometheus, resembles satan in the greek mythology. he angers zeus by lighting a fire from the sun and bringing it back to man.
- Analyzes how satan symbolizes diminished status for humans by alienating them from their perfect relationship with god.
- Opines that a true hero is someone who rebels against an unjust tyranny but most importantly in order to right the wrong. satan displays tremendous vanity and pride and devotes himself to evil.
- Explains that all three monotheistic religions have roots in the concept of god and satan, where hero and villain are clearly defined.
- Analyzes how milton portrays satan as a distant, wrathful, and distant god who can destroy whoever he wants. he wants to be loved and have humans prove their love to him.
- Analyzes how milton's poem is a period rift with anxiety over changes in faith and the subsequent loss of it. satan is an eloquent orator; his power of persuasion is compelling.
- Analyzes how satan's transformations reveal his resolute determination to discredit humans and continue his battle against god. he is courageous, strong willed, and responsible, but his character degenerates as the poem ends.
2029 wordsRead More - Paradise Lost by John Miltonanalytical essayJohn Milton divided the characters in his epic poem Paradise Lost into two sides, one side under God representing good, and the other side under Satan representing evil and sin. Milton first introduced the reader to the character Satan, the representative of all evil, and his allegiance of fallen angels that aided in his revolt against God (Milton 35). Only later did Milton introduce the reader to all powerful God, leader and creator of all mankind (John). This introduction of Satan first led the reader to believe acts of sin were good, just like Eve felt in the Garden of Eden when she was enticed by Satan to eat the fruit off of the Tree of Knowledge (Milton 255). The later introduction of The Almighty had the readers change their feelings towards sin, as the ways of God were introduced to them and these ways were shown to be the way to feel and believe. This levy of good vs. evil carried on throughout the poem with the interaction of Satan and his fallen angels with God and his son in Heaven.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton divided the characters in his epic poem paradise lost into two sides, one representing good, and the other representing evil and sin.
- Analyzes how satan represented sin and evil in the battle against god. he was a former high angel from heaven named lucifer, meaning, "light bearer."
- Explains that satan formed an allegiance of fallen angels to help him carry out his evil goals. beelzebub was a " majestic, wise statesman" in his leadership abilities of this council.
- Explains that the council held a meeting in the capital of hell called pandemonium, where the reader was introduced to all of the fallen angels and learned their evil ideas of revenge against god and heaven.
- Analyzes the relationship between satan's daughter sin and his incestuous son death, which showed the reader the sick perversity of evil.
- Analyzes how milton used two main characters to display good and virtue to the reader. god was the creator of man and kept this in control with three mighty powers.
- Analyzes how milton introduces the son, whose powers and abilities contradict the sin and evil throughout the poem.
- Analyzes how the son brought forth his commitment to his father, judgment of man, to the reader in book ten of the poem.
- Analyzes the contrast between evil and good in john milton's epic poem paradise lost.
- Describes milton's paradise lost and other poems.
2082 wordsRead More - Milton’s Paradise Lostanalytical essayCritics of the Romantic Period have claimed that John Milton was unconsciously allied with the forces of evil. In Paradise Lost Milton’s accounts of “Devils & Hell” are much more elaborate and awe inspiring than those of “Angels & God.” Hell and Satan are portrayed extensively whereas the reader is given brief and inconclusive glimpses of Heaven. The apparent dichotomy is explained by William Blake: “The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels & Gods, and at liberty when of Devils & Hell, is because he was a true Poet and of the Devil’s Party without knowing it.”
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's accounts of "devils & hell" are elaborate and awe inspiring, whereas the reader is given brief and inconclusive glimpses of heaven.
- Analyzes how milton's adherence to orthodox views resulted in an uninspired portrait of heaven. the vivid imagery of the volcanic and desolate terrain gave hell an genuine ambience.
- Analyzes how milton held antipathetic views regarding tyrannical authorities. he created numerous pamphlets to protest the regime of unjust rulers such as king charles i.
- Analyzes how similarities between milton and satan, such as their mutual opposition to tyranny, indicate that milton may have unconsciously created his version of satan
410 wordsRead More - Paradise Lost Satan Character Analysisanalytical essayReaders of John Milton’s Paradise Lost generally have early preconceptions of Satan’s character that differ from their final judgement. The consensus is that Satan has either become more evil or readers gradually realize that they have been ensnared by Satan’s honey-coated words. However, has he truly become more evil as many say? Milton takes advantage of his readers’ preconceptions about Satan’s character by developing an unexpectedly charismatic, admirable and wholly relatable character; Milton’s Satan is nothing like the bedside story, ram horned and prong tailed, blotched red devil in popular culture. As “a living, thinking being, who plots and contrives, and hates and suffers” (Preston, 710), the sly devil languidly lures his readers
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton takes advantage of his readers' preconceptions about satan's character by developing an unexpectedly charismatic, admirable and wholly relatable character.
- Analyzes how milton develops satan into a character worthy of our sympathy and admiration.
- Analyzes how book iv's deliverance of satan’s pinnacle state prompts readers to impart an unfavorable judgement.
- Analyzes how satan's pride is damaged and he is willing to degrade himself for the chance to win it all back. satan slips into character as a prowling wolf, which reminds readers of the sheep in sheep’s clothing.
- Opines that satan's actions make him evil, but the doctrine of the fortunate fall places god in the awkward position of secretly wanting adam and eve to do what he tells them not to.
- Analyzes how milton's satan is humanistic; he counts his losses and acts accordingly. however, the question remains, does satan truly become evil as most say?
1648 wordsRead More - Who Is To Scrutinize Doré's Satan?analytical essayIn order to support John Milton’s characterization in Paradise Lost of Satan as a fallen angel “Stirred up with envy and revenge…” but also “…racked with deep despair,” Gustave Doré’s Satan is Wounded portrays Satan in his weakest state and illuminates Satan’s facial features to show his despair and how it fuels his wrath (1.35,126). When scrutinizing Satan’s facial features in Doré’s portrait, the emotions of despair, disbelief, and rage are clearly shown in his expression, supporting Milton’s claim that, “…the thought/Both of lost happiness and lasting pain/Torments [Satan],” and he allows his despair over those losses to fuel his hatred (1.55-56). Doré’s depiction of Satan’s face shows the fallen angel with furrowed brows, a crestfallen frown, and an aghast yet enraged expression. This depiction of Satan clearly shows that although he is wracked with disbelief and despair at being hurled from Heaven, Satan also exhibits
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how gustave doré's depiction of satan in paradise lost shows his despair, disbelief, and rage, which fuels his wrath.
- Analyzes how doré's depiction of a fallen satan in his portrait supports milton’s claim that no one was more greatly affected or ashamed from the fall than satan.
448 wordsRead More - The exploration of Satan's character, in addition to his own twists on the original story of Genesis make Paradise Lost an ingenious work of creativity and intellectual fortitude. It would seem folly that one of the greatest pieces of the English literary canon has been referred to as "a monument to dead ideas," a mere reflection of times and themes which no longer exist. However, considering the secularization of the age, the emphasis on heresy and irreligiousness seem to have become the prerequisites of intellectual virtue. While transcending dogma and doctrine in order to embrace all art is something a true aesthete must do, to go so far as to declare Milton's Paradise Lost outmoded and irrelevant can be nothing short of outrageous and irreverent. The method, form, and lyrical intensity of the poem are what entered it into the canon initially, and are what will preserve it there, in its proper place, for all time-after all, it was conceived in and takes place in Eternity-or so Milton claimed. In the modern day, in the company of those who regard the Bible and its contents as no more than legend, religious propaganda, or literature, Paradise Lost sits well and holds its own as a great piece of literature should, for as Milton himself wrote in "Areopagitica,"
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's "bogey" has haunted all the masters of the english language as art. his figure is essential to the integrity of literature in english-paradise lost.
- Argues that the great epic works need not be true in objective reality in order to teach us things and reveal other truths we do not know.
- Analyzes how spenser predicts that the faerie queene will be regarded by some as merely a child's story, some illusion painted for useless ends.
- Analyzes belsey's definition of ocular error in the faerie queene and paradise lost.
- Analyzes how oscar wilde's apologia "de profundis" refers to jesus as the true beginning of the romantics.
- Opines that even the most ardent disbeliever cannot deny the facts of reality, the effects of religions on art and culture of different ages.
- Opines that milton's work is more than an apologetic encomium making a case for christianity. satan is one of the most intricately wrought, intensely supported characters in english literature.
- Opines that milton's paradise lost is an ingenious work of creativity and intellectual fortitude. the method, form, and lyrical intensity of the poem are what entered it into the canon initially.
- Opines that paradise lost is arguably one of the greatest achievements in the history of english literature, and those who are unable to appreciate it because of their own philistine nature have not caused milton or christianity any hurt.
1693 wordsRead More - Milton uses this deceptive notion of the truth in Paradise Lost in order to construct a theory of morality that is based upon the individual doing the action rather than the action itself. With the character of Satan, Milton offers many instances of deception, only one of which is the temptation of Eve by Satan. Many of the events in the poem to show how easily we are deceived. Eve's temptation of Adam is only one example. Her ulterior motive of having Adam eat the fruit, and thus die, so that he would never be with another woman, is questionable at best. Yet her attempt at deception fails, since Adam takes the apple for different reasons. This example suggests that deception, no matter to what end, is immoral. The many examples of Satan's deception not working adds to this idea. Like Dr. Evans says, Satan turns into a serpent for the sole purpose of it being discreet. Yet the fact that he turns into a talking serpent is precisely the thing that grabs Eve's attention and would have foiled Satan's plans if it were not for what Dr. Evans called Satan's improvisational work. Throughout the book, Satan's "infernal logic," as we call it in section, appears in his speeches. Two examples are, "The mind is its own place, and in itself / Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven" (Milton 240) and, "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" (Milton 240). As Dr. Evans said, Milton is taking the position of a moral extremist. He is saying that evil beings can only do evil things; conversely, good people can only do good things. Morality, then, is shaped by the individuals doing the action rather than a coherent philosophical ideology.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that in the 16th and 17th centuries, the foundations of civilization had been shaken. the cosmological, geographical, and religious revolutions called into question the nature of truth itself.
- Analyzes how milton's failed political aspirations led him to believe that individuals receive the truth directly or indirectly from god, whereas deception comes from satan.
- Analyzes how milton uses the characters of god and raphael to construct his idea of divine truth.
- Analyzes how milton uses the deceptive notion of the truth in paradise lost to construct a theory of morality that is based upon the individual doing the action.
- Explains that the nature of truth is volatile as the world around us. the revolution of thought that occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries forced milton to change the foundations of their own thought.
1113 wordsRead More