- 21/11/2012
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
| Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit
Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Heav’nly Muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed, In the Beginning how the Heav’ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos. (I:1-10) The beginning of the poem describes the setting of the book. It gives insight to the main theme of the book the loss of Paradise and expelling of man from Paradise. Symbols used in this lines are Oreb, Sinai, Eden.
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The author uses different symbols which actually involve readers into the atmosphere of the book and influence their emotions and senses. For instance, the reference to the root of Christianity, to Oreb or Sinai indicates to the strong religious background of the book, in which the author attempts to return to the time, when Christianity had just started. Oreb one of the Jews princes, whose name means raven that is very symbolic since ravens are traditionally associated with some misfortune or tragedy. In fact, ravens are symbols of tragic omens. In such a context, it is obvious that the author attempted to reveal the tragic aspect of the book and the story of the main characters he was going to convey to the audience. At the same time, from the beginning of the book, the author creates the setting of the Paradise, when man’s disobedience led to his expel from Eden. In this regard, the reference to Oreb is quite symbolic since, from the beginning of the book, readers are prepared to some misfortune that is going to happen as the plot of the book unfolds. Another symbol Sion can be associated with the first temple constructed by Jews, which was very important for the development of Christianity. In such a way, the author relates the story of the man’s disobedience and expel from Eden to the origin of Christianity. Probably, Milton attempted to make the audience thinking of the origin of Christianity and interpretation of Biblical stories which could differ in the course of time. |
| Him the Almighty Power
Hurld headlong flaming from th’ Ethereal Skie With hideous ruine and combustion down To bottomless perdition, there to dwell In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire, Who durst defie th’ Omnipotent to Arms. (I:44-49) These lines use Latinized syntax and diction. The author intentionally slips to Latinizing in order to make the text similar to texts written by Catholic scholars. |
The use of Latinized syntax and diction is also quite symbolic since traditional priests and the Roman Catholic Church used Latin as the official language which was used in religious ceremonies and rites. Therefore, Latin was viewed as the language of the Roman Catholic Church since it was not used in any community at the time when Milton created his work. For instance, it is possible to refer to the following example of Latinized syntax and diction. The author uses the style of the Roman Catholic scholasticism and readers, who attended church regularly, should perceive the book written by Milton as one of religious works. At any rate, the author attempted to create a book that could be perceived as equal to books and texts written by Catholic scholars. By means of the Latinized syntax and diction, Milton’s book created the impression of being a scholastic work. |
| If then his Providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, Our labour must be to pervert that end, And out of good still to find means of evil (I:162-165) The assonance can be traced in 163, 164 and 165 lines. The author repeats out and our to stress the three lines and to draw the attention of readers. |
Assonance contributes to the stylistic and aesthetic richness of the book. On the other hand, the use of assonance contributes to stressing the message of the author to the audience because readers repeat the same sounds and naturally stress them. In such a way, the author achieves his goal to draw the attention of the audience to the most important parts of his book. |
| Thus Satan talking to his neerest Mate
With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes That sparkling blaz’d, his other Parts besides Prone on the Flood, extended long and large Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge As whom the Fables name of monstrous size, Titanian, or Earth-Born, that warr’d on Jove, Briarios or Typhon, whom the Den By ancient Tarsus held, or that Sea-beast Leviathan, which God of all his works Created hugest that swim th’ Ocean stream (I:193-202) The simile can be found in lines 198-199. The author compares Satan to Leviathan, “as huge as…”. In such a way, Milton evokes readers’ associations of Satan with Leviathan. |
The simile is used to compare Satan to Leviathan. Such a comparison was definitely very precise and comprehensible to supporters of the existing Christian traditions and beliefs. Moreover, such a comparison could be particularly comprehensible to ardent Catholics who could think of the similarity the between Satan and Leviathan in their danger and threat to men. On the other hand, Milton managed to metaphorically compare Satan to Leviathan in their power and strengths. In addition, Satan was also a creature of God. However, unlike Leviathan, who was a blind tool in hands of God, Satan prefers to act on his own and the size of Leviathan which may imply the power of God is confronted to the huge size of Satan who is the main opponent of God. |
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