paradise lost, books 3 and 4

in books 3 and 4, we meet God.  and, it turns out he is less "fun" than Satan.  it struck me as i was reading--and as i have been discussing the poem with my students--that we are incredibly resistant to hierarchy.  and, the God we meet in the poem is all about it. so. we side with Satan, even though we know we shouldn't. 

Milton grew up praying morning prayers at St. Paul's Cathedral in london.  he would have prayed  often about service to God being perfect freedom.  i think he tries to convey that idea in the poem too as we see God set out His plan for humankind.  and i think he tries to show us how easily we are swayed from seeking that perfect freedom--how quickly we'll give it up--in order to pursue a false freedom of the sort that Satan offers.

Paradise Lost, Books 1 and 2

Every time I come back to this poem, I realize again how amazing it is.  The editor of my edition says that "Growing to understand Paradise Lost is a lifelong adventure."  I think he is definitely right.  I can imagine re-reading this poem annually and always discovering something new.

Here are a few things that struck me this time.  I'm curious to hear your thoughts too!

1. This poem is gorgeous to read out loud.  I read a big chunk of Book 1 out loud to myself and it was amazing.  I heard things I'd never heard before.  The rhetoric of the speeches was even more powerful.  Satan had my ear.  If you've never read any of it out loud, try it.  You'll like it.
2. In Book 1, Satan and his compatriots are so proud.  They remain proud throughout the book--that's their trouble, after all--but it stood out to me in new ways this time.  One of Satan's most famous lines is that "The mind is its own place and in itself / Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven" (1:254-55).  How true is that?  And how often do I let my mind run away with me, making a "hell" out of what need not be one?  
3. Satan's refusal to submit, his refusal to believe that he is not equal to God gets him where he is.  But it's his addiction to a misguided notion of freedom that's the real kicker.  Just a few lines on from the mind quote, he praises the freedom that he and his fellow demons will have in hell:  "Here at least / We shall be free.  Th' Almighty hath not built / Here for His envy, will not drive us hence. / Here we may reign secure, and in my choice / To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: / Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven!" (1:258-263).  Ah, Satan.  So misguided.  And, yet.  How often do I feel the same way?  That I'd rather be in charge and suffer the consequences of my choices than be patient and wait on God?  Misguided or wrongly pursued freedom just creates misery.
4. In Book 2, I'm again struck by the audacity of Satan and his followers--their attempt to construct a kingdom that is a perverted version of Heaven.  Heaven is their only reference point and, despite their striking defeat, there they are, trying to recreate the glory of heaven in Hell.  But they're logical creatures and their discussion over how to best attempt revenge on God is an interesting one.  But I love what Milton says, reminding us that God will use all that Satan means for evil in the service of ultimate good (that's back in Book 1 around line 210, but this knowledge carries with us throughout the poem).
5. Has Sin ever seemed less appealing?  The personification of Sin in Book 2 (starting on line 650 of Book 2) is truly horrifying.  If only I kept that image in my mind each time I begin to think that Sin is attractive.