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The Western Canon Mailing List
Moderator: Paul John Barnette Jr.
Activation Date: March 8, 1997
Current Date:  May 23, 1997
Current Membership: 58
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Hello all,

Still behind on Paradise Lost, but this weekend looks promising for
catching up some.  A few comments through where I should have been
last week...

Previous to starting Paradise Lost, I had heard about Satan being the
most interesting character in the poem.  Not trying to improve or add
to centuries of debate and discussion on this topic, but I will
comment on why I find Satan more interesting.  God and the Son are
perfect characters and they stay static and seem to lack depth.  I
enjoy reading about Satan because there is that depth...he seems to
have many more dimensions than God or the Son.  I loved listening to
him ponder what had happened, his rationalization of what he did, and
him addressing some of his dilemmas.  There is no equivalent "inner
thought" associated with God or the Son.

The nature of God in the poem irritates me somewhat.  Does anyone else
have a problem with a God (almost fanatically) demanding obedience
well before there is any thought or sign of disobedience? 

Some thoughts on the "science fiction" aspects of Paradise Lost:  I
think Milton would be very disappointed in such a comparison.  I think
he viewed his work as the equivalent of the Bible.  When he proposes
to explain the ways of God to man, I think he viewed himself as having
the divine ability (or at least the intelligence) to pull it off. 
It's true that some of the passages are as fantastical as any science
fiction, but I think Milton would argue that is the nature of the
ethereal beings he is describing (as well as continuing the epic
tradition, as Paul mentioned).  I do agree with Paul that the
fantastical descriptions were probably influenced by the scientific
time he was living.

Which leads to an interesting question (to me anyway):  does Milton
intend for Paradise Lost to be taken literally?  Did he think it
happened in detail as he described? Or does he just use the story to
convey the points and the theology he wants to make?  I'm still
waffling on this question but I would love to hear others' thoughts on
the subject.

One more point (thanks for your indulgence so far):  Milton seems to
closely identify himself with Abdiel, who shunned Lucifer's
enticements for the rebellion.  But it may be a more ironic comparison
if you also think of Abdiel as the one unsuccessful at swaying any of
the rebels, since his speech is almost indecipherable due to his zeal.
 May be a closer identification than Milton intended.

Dwight
dwiggreen@aol.com

ps  Paul, loved your comment on Hollywood focusing on Book VI if a
movie were made. Of course, if they casted Demi Moore were in it,
there would be a gratuitous hot tub scene as well.  Which could lead
to an interesting merchandising tie-in:  Eve action figure
dolls...push her navel (did Eve have a navel?) and her fig leaf flies
off.  But I digress...


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