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.
4 years ago
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