Throughout time, john milton's paradise lost has been studied by many people and comprehended in many different fashions, developing all kinds of new interpretations of the great epic. Milton's purpose in writing the epic was to explain the biblical story of adam and eve. Although the epic is similar to the bible story in many ways, milton's character structure differs from that of the bible's version. All through out the epic milton describes the characters in the way he believes they are.

In book ii of paradise lost, milton portrays satan as a rebel who exhibits certain heroic qualities, but who turns out not to be a hero. Milton's introduction of satan shows the reader how significant satan is to paradise lost. He uses satan's heroic qualities to his followers, and his ability to corrupt to show the thin line between good and evil. Satan was one of the highest angels in heaven and was know as lucifer, meaning, light bearer. Milton makes the reader see him as a leader and a strong influence to all in his presence.

He best describes satan's ways when stating, his pride/ had cast him out from heaven, with all his host. / of rebel angels, by whose aspiring/ to set himself in glory above his peers milton book i. Satan always tried to be number one and a leader, instead of following in god's shadow. He would of lived a life in paradise forever, but he had to follow his feelings as he states, better to reign in hell than serve in heaven milton 31. Milton uses many events like the ones listed above to encourage the reader to view satan as a hero. These traits of satan show how one might recognize satan as the second in power right below god, who was the highest power of all.

Before satan decides to give up what he has and to rebel against god, he was one of the wisest and most beautiful of all the angels in heaven mccolley 24. Although satan was beautiful, the most important trait that makes him fit into the hero category is that he was the most powerful angel in heaven. This helps him greatly in his rebellion, because the other angels would look up to him. With this ability, satan is able to persuade others to follow him in his rebellion. When satan says, to govern, not to serve he emphasizes liberty and encourages the other angels in heaven to all join him and his rebellion revard 216. Milton uses the whole rebellion scene, when put together with the battle in heaven, ends up being one eighth of paradise lost, to show heroic qualities in satan. Devoting this much time to a certain scene, milton makes it clear how important satan is in his eyes.

Although, the speeches are very long and thorough, they are also very persuasive at the same time. Satan was able to persuade one third of all the angels in heaven to join with him in his rebellion emerson 399. Satan would give speeches, that would raise the attention of his followers and make them feel more confident in him. This was at first resolved, if we were wise, against so great a foe contending, and so doubtful what might fall. Milton 68 in this fraction of satan's speech, milton shows how skilled satan is in his choice of words. Also, this shows why the others look up to satan as their leader, as hamilton says, satan is seen as a prince of hell, as \well as commoner and matchless chief. does adam gain heroic stature when he stands by eve and eat the fruit from the forbidden tree? yes, adam shows his heroism through standing by eve and eating the forbidden fruit.

American History Term Paper

This is so because even after being aware that what eve had done was wrong he still supported her by committing the same mistake of eating the forbidden fruit. Adam stood by his wife knowing that the sin she had committed will result in her death he decided to eat the fruit so that they could both die for they were one flesh. These shows how much love he had for his wife thus fulfilling god's command that he should love and protect her? also through what adam did we see that all human nature are humbled to serve god? this is clearly evident when they both wake up in the morning after having nightmares throughout realizing that they have sinned eve convinces adam that they go before god and ask for his mercy and forgiveness. By adam accepting to eat the fruit we as mankind are in a position to learn of god's grace even if we have wronged him so long as we repent our sins and turn to him as our only savior.

things to note:

1 the paper has a clearly articulated thesis in the introduction, one that is developed in different ways in each of the paragraphs of the paper. 2 the paper proceeds logically from sentence to sentence and from point to point although the student might have done a yet better job in providing a transition from the section on invocation to the section on machinery ideally, the essay would have tied together these two parts of the argument, especially since they are, in fact, intimately related.

3 rather than making numerous points briefly, the student has chosen to concentrate on a specific topic so that s/he can provide an in depth and extensive interpretation of the text at hand. 4 the student has used a good deal of textual evidence from paradise lost to support his/her case. 5 the student never rests at paraprase but always seeks to interpret the descriptions s/he provides.

the justification note: i have included my marginal comments in red

from the beginning of his paradise lost. Unlike earlier epics, his was not created solely for entertainment or societal value. These previous epic narratives were culturally valuable not only for their storytelling appeal, but also for their embedded instructions which were then contained word choice: anything better? for future generations.

Yet milton, instead of just telling a story, created his epic with one grandiose purpose in mind: to justify the ways of god to men paradise lost 1.26. He, therefore, adapted the established epic conventions to better achieve note: split infinitive his majestic goal. But the modifications of the invocation to the muse and the epic machinery best illustrate milton's changes to epic tradition. Strong introduction, though you might also establish your argument about how precisely these two conventions are transformed. The invocation to the muse in paradise lost has been reworked by milton to provide a transition from the mythical world of past epics to the christian setting of his epic.