6 Matching Annotations
  1. Sep 2018
    1. Warr therefore, open or conceal'd, alike My voice disswades; for what can force or guile With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye Views all things at one view? he from heav'ns highth [ 190 ] All these our motions vain, sees and derides; Not more Almighty to resist our might Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heav'n Thus trampl'd, thus expell'd to suffer here [ 195 ] Chains and these Torments? better these then worse By my advice;

      Belial seems to suggest that the devils cannot ultimately win against God's omniscience and power, and further rebellion might actually put them in a worse state than they are already in.

    2. where there is then no good [ 30 ] For which to strive, no strife can grow up there From Faction; for none sure will claim in Hell Precedence, none, whose portion is so small Of present pain, that with ambitious mind Will covet more. With this advantage then [ 35 ] To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord, More then can be in Heav'n, we now return To claim our just inheritance of old,

      Satan seems to be justifying his role as the leader in hell based upon his knowledge that he will receive the greatest punishment from heaven. Since their mission is to do the opposite of good, nobody will try to upstage Satan by doing more evil than him, and in turn increase their punishment. In another context we might consider this an epic quality (like "taking one for the team"), but in this context he is acting without merit and nobility...so this goes into the ridiculous column.

    1. Soon recollecting, with high words, that boreSemblance of worth, not substance, gently rais'dThir fainting courage, and dispel'd thir fears. [ 530 ]

      The narrator seems to call Satan's rhetorical abilities into question by writing that his speech is received as "worthy" by his listeners, but that it has no substance.

    2. Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd.

      In line 220 the word "treble" might be interpreted as simply "a large amount of", but in this context I wonder if Milton was inferring that the full power of God in the person of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (trinity) would ultimately deal with Satan.

  2. Aug 2018
    1. What reinforcement we may gain from Hope, [ 190 ]If not what resolution from despare.

      Satan is rallying his group to deal with their situation, either by gaining strength through some type of hope for a solution, or by using hopelessness to harden them more.

    2. To do ought good never will be our task,But ever to do ill our sole delight, [ 160 ]

      In these lines Satan sets out his statement of purpose for him and his fellow demons. I'm wondering how to interpret the word "ought" here. Is Satan, in his seething rage, saying "to simply do no good isn't our charter - that's not going far enough; our goal is to always do evil"? He seems to be making a proactive commitment to great evil rather than just not allowing good to happen.