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God Satan Angels Paradise Milton′S Discuss Theme Characterization

正面 7 . Discuss the theme and characterization of“Paradise Lost”.
《》 Part Ⅴ n The Period of Revolution and Restoration
背面 The theme and characterization of Paradise Lost .
Paradise Lost is Milton′s masterpiece . Its story is taken
from the Bible, about“the fall of man”, that is, how Adam
and Eve are tempted by Satan to disobey God by eating the
forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, and how they
are punished by God and driven out of Paradise . In Milton′
s words, the purpose of writing the epic is to“justify the
ways of God to men”, but apparently with Satan as his
mouthpiece, Milton is uttering his intense hatred of tyranny
in the capacity of the Revolutionary .By depicting Satan and
his followers as well as their fiery utterance and brave ac-
tions, Milton is showing a Puritan′s revolt against the dicta-
tor and against the established doctrines of the Catholics and
the Anglican Church .
In the poem God is no better than a cruel and selfish
despot, seated on a throne with a chorus of angels about him
singing songs to praise him . His long speeches are not pleas-
ing at all . He is cruel and unjust in punishing Satan . His Archangel Raphael is only a bore . His angels are stupid .But
Satan is by far the most striking character in the poem, who
rises against God and, though defeated, still seeks for re-
venge .
Adam and Eve embody Milton′s belief in the powers of
man . God denied them craving for knowledge . It is this
longing for knowledge that opens before mankind a wide
road to intelligent and active life . It has been noted by many
critics that Milton′s revolutionary feelings made him forget
religious orthodoxy . The angels who surround the God nev-
er think of expressing any opinions of their own, and they
never seem to have any opinions of their own . This image of
God surrounded by such angels resembles the court of an ab-
solute monarch . But Satan and his followers, who freely
discuss all issues in council, remind us a republican Parlia-
ment .

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