To make sense of the first two books of the epic poem Paradise Lost and further to understand Satan as a character, the reader must be equipped with a little background information. First of all, Satan, known as Lucifer, and his compatriots were once angels of ... ...
... them thought it to be extremely obscene. According to Marquery Durham, Coleridge did respond to their bad reviews with "I saw an old book in Coleorton in which the Paradise Lost was described as an obscene poem' so I am in good company."" (Bloom, Samuel T., 66). At another time Coleridge remarked that the theme of "Christabel- is "that the virtuous of this world save the ... wicked- (Bloom, Modern Critical, 217). Both of these remarks stated by Coleridge himself support his religious intent of the poem, for Paradise Lost is a story of God and Satan; and the virtuous saving the wicked is...
... rule by the populace - as divine, with other forms of government warranting at least some degree of skepticism. That said, modern readers of Milton's Paradise Lost may be inclined to observe Satan's government in Hell as ideal - everyone has an opportunity to speak his piece, and votes are taken when decisions ... seen as the antithesis to a good republican system, as there is a clear monarchy headed by God. However, twentieth century wisdom does not apply to Paradise Lost, as Milton takes great pains to associate God's council with holiness, and Satan's with wickedness. It becomes appa...
... the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Milton ends his poem by saying "They also serve who only stand and wait." He was clearly thinking of the scripture from Isaiah mentioned above when he wrote this concluding line. All in all ... to engulf him. In the final analysis, patience led him to a longsuffering faith and he was able to write one of the most enduring pieces of literature known to man--"Paradise Lost" while blind. This was a truly amazing feat. Especially for one man against...
