I was originally going to title this "The Highway to Hell" but I didn't know how my lit teacher would react to me having a cus word in all caps on my title page.
The Highway from Heaven
In Paradise Lost, Milton expands the role of Satan and his fallen angels, letting the reader into the conversations in Hell leading up to the fall of man. Unlike the story in the Bible, Milton is able to bring the reader into the minds and reasoning behind Satan and the fallen angels, making them characters that the reader can empathize with. By depicting Satan and his fallen angels with relatable emotions and admirable qualities, Milton makes Satan and the fallen angels characters that the reader can empathize with and respect. Milton intends to humanize the fallen angels and Satan by letting the reader connect to them on an emotional level. He also wants the reader to admire Satan and his fallen angels by listening to the charisma of their speeches and showing to the leadership qualities of Satan.
By letting the reader hear the conversations going on in Hell, Milton intends to draw the reader into the minds and world of Satan and his fallen angels. Both Satan and his fallen angels are depicted as charismatic and persuasive speakers. In Hell, Satan and the fallen angels hold a council to determine how they will retaliate against God and Heaven. Milton depicts one of the demons speaking in the council as “Belial, in act more graceful and humane;/ A fairer person lost not Heav’n” (Milton 2.109-110). Milton makes the point of describing the fallen angel, Belial, as “graceful and humane”. The word “humane” in this context is most likely a variant on the word “human”. Milton did not describe Belial as demonic, but instead compares him to a human. By using this description, Milton is able to let the reader connect with Belial. Milton not only related Belial to humans, but calls him graceful and fair, letting the reader relate and admire him and other fallen angels.
Milton puts an emphasis on the admiration of the fallen angels in Paradise Lost. He goes into great length on how they are even worshiped by humans.
With these in troop
Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called
Astartè, queen of Heav’n, with crescent horns;
To whose bright image nightly by the moon
Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs, (Milton 1.437-441).
The fallen angels were respected and worshiped among humans as gods. In this example, it is goddess being worshiped as the moon. This would have been appealing to women readers since most people generally associate God with a man. Milton makes a point of going into a long description of how the different fallen angels are worshiped and revered on earth. The fallen angels are worshiped on a level equal to God. Not only are they greatly admired, but they also display charisma.
This charisma of the fallen angels is shown when one of Satan’s fallen angels speaks up in their council. Even though he is only one of Satan’s partners “his tongue/ Dropped manna, and could make the worst appear/The better reason, to perplex and dash/ Maturest councils . . . he pleased the ear” (Milton 2.112-115 117). More often than not, when the reader pictures a demon, they do not think of them as persuasive or charismatic. Milton breaks the typical stereotype and shows the fallen angels in an appealing light, pulling the reader towards admiring them. Milton also gives the fallen angel a “persuasive accent” (Milton 2.118), drawing the reader in to listening to him. Milton even says that the most intelligent mind could be drawn in to the fallen angel. Even the most intelligent mind could respect Satan and the fallen angels’ rhetoric and reason. The fallen angels couple their rhetorical reason with seductive charisma. The fallen angels are not the only charismatic creatures in Hell.
Satan’s speeches that he gives to his fallen angels are also shown as very charismatic and inspiring. Often despite his own discouragement, Satan is able to inspire his band of fallen angels. Satan rallies his army, saying:
“Powers and Dominions, deities of Heaven,
For since no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though oppressed and fall’n,
I give not Heav’n for lost (Milton 2.11-14).
Satan inspires them by saying that even though they are in the pits of Hell, there was still hope of regaining Heaven. The ability to rally troops is an important and admirable quality that a leader must have. Milton shows Satan’s ability to encourage and rally his troops through his charismatic speeches. The readers of Paradise Lost will gravitate toward the character of Satan because of his leadership qualities.
Satan also proves himself to be a sacrificial leader. Satan even mirrors the Son of God, also offering himself up as a sacrifice for the fallen angels’ cause. In Book II at the close of the council they call for someone to offer them self to go into the Middle Darkness and go to Earth. Satan takes the opportunity and volunteers himself, proving himself as a sacrificial leader. As the Son of God is offered up, Satan volunteers himself to avenge his fallen angels. By volunteering himself as a tribute, Satan is shown to be a selfless leader of the fallen angels. Satan is willing to risk his life for their cause, giving him a heroic quality. Milton knows that, as readers, people tend to relate and sympathize with the hero more than the antagonist. By making Satan have the self-sacrificing, heroic quality, Milton is making Satan a character that the reader can admire in Paradise Lost.
Satan and the fallen angels’ are not only admirable, but characters that the reader can relate to on an emotional level. Satan and his fallen angels experience emotions that only themselves and humans can experience. God and his perfect, heavenly angels cannot feel the same emotions that Satan feels when he is jealous of the Son of God.
fraught
With envy against the Son of God, that day
Honored by his great Father, and proclaimed
Messiah King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired (Milton 5.661-665).
Unlike the heavenly angels and God, Satan and the fallen angels feel emotions that humans can feel. God and the heavenly angels cannot feel envy the same way that humans and Satan can. Envy is a fallen emotion that the readers can relate to and have experienced. Satan also feels pride in such a strong way that it makes “himself impaired” (Milton 5.665). This is another emotion that the readers, as fallen creatures, can understand. It is easier for humans to relate with a fallen creature, like Satan and the fallen angels, than it is for a human to relate to God and the heavenly angels. Since humans also have experienced fallen emotion, the reader can relate to the fallen emotions that Satan experiences. God and His angels are perfect, and perfection is unattainable for humans, making it difficult for the reader to relate to them. This makes the reader naturally gravitate towards Satan and the fallen angels, relating to their fallen emotions.
Milton also uses earthly renderings to help him describe Hell. Since both Hell and Earth are fallen places, Milton is able to use earthly places and things to hep enhance his portrayal of Hell. Since Heaven is perfect place, this makes it much more difficult for Milton to describe. This allows for Hell to be the more relatable place for the reader. At the beginning of Book II, Milton describes the extravagance of Hell as
far
[Outshining] the wealth of Ormus of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand
Show’rs on her kings barbaric pearls and gold,
Satan exalted [sits] (Milton 2.1-5)
Milton uses vivid, luxurious and earthly comparisons to let the reader picture Hell. When Milton describes Heaven, he asks the Muse to help him “see and tell/ Of things invisible to mortal sight” (Milton 3.54-55). Heaven is impossible to accurately depict since it is perfect and fallen humans cannot picture perfection. Hell is easier to picture, since it is also a fallen place. This allows the reader to picture it more vividly than Heaven. Hell then becomes a more attainable place for the reader. The reader can connect with Milton’s use of earthly comparisons for Hell more than the perfection displayed in Heaven.
In Paradise Lost Milton makes Satan and the fallen angels characters that the reader can identify with on an emotional level and admire. Not only can the reader empathize with them, but the reader can understand Satan and the fallen angles more than God and his heavenly angels. The reader can connect with the fallen angels and Satan on an emotional level and admire their charisma and Satan’s leadership qualities. By using earthly comparisons, Milton made Hell a place that the readers could picture and attain. Also, Milton put emphasis on the fallen emotions that Satan and his angels experienced. These were emotions that, as fallen creatures, the readers could empathize with. In Paradise Lost Milton makes Satan and his angels characters that the readers will relate to.
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