Milton, Paradise Lost, Book IV. March 3rd 2009
Students' comments (slightly edited). // indicates comment by fellow student
1. Satan in Eden: describes Satan in "long" terms. Description of Eden - words are beautiful, takes a long time to describe. Contrast writing of paradise to Satan's entrance. Satan has reason to be evil: God loves Adam and Eve more; his resentment, shows human side of Satan. Satan see Eden as a personal blow.
2. This book is a change in the way it is presented. Whereas books 1 and 2 were all very dark, this book has a very light and happy feeling to it. The way that Milton describes Eden, it feels as though we are Adam and Eve, just experiencing everything, life for the first time. It switches between Satan and Adam and Eve, contrasting the evil in Satan and the good in Adam and Eve. // Milton allows us to see the situation through both Adam and Eve and Satan's eyes, and allows us to choose the hero.
3. Interesting to see Satan's actions 'justified' in a way. We are given a glimpse of insight into Satan's motivation and thought processes, and perhaps we begin to see him as a lost soul rather than an evil presence. // Satan is resentful or jealous of Adam and Eve because God has made them in his likeness and loves them much more than he ever loved Satan or the other angels.
4. Striking that Satan would ever doubt his decision to rebel against God. I found it curious to think that he would have thought of asking for foregiveness in hopes of regaining God's grace and returning to Heaven. However, his eventual conclusion that there was no way he could be forgiven shown him committing the greatest sin, that is despairing of forgiveness. // Why do you think he rebelled in the first place if he later regretted it? Do you think he may still be good?
5. Everything about Satan is super dramatic: it's like he wants to be super impressive. This part where he's like, O I'm sorry, is kind of funny because you can tell he's still really prideful. He's really just whining that he lost; he's really like a child, he decides he wants more and tries to take something, and he totally just got beaten.
Document created March 3rd 2009