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MILTON AND THE FOUR ELEMENTS.
In Book 2 of Paradise Lost, John Milton depicts a gathering of all the fallen angels to decide their course of action after the Fall.
Peace? War? What kind of war?
Four of the demons rise and speak. In order:
In Book 2 of Paradise Lost, John Milton depicts a gathering of all the fallen angels to decide their course of action after the Fall.
Peace? War? What kind of war?
Four of the demons rise and speak. In order:
Moloc (his name comes from the semitic root “mlk”, which means “King”) comes forward first. In Milton’s words, a “Scepter'd King [...], the strongest and the fiercest Spirit That fought in Heav'n; now fiercer by despair”.
What does he propose?
What does he propose?
Open war. To attack the Heavenly Throne with everything they have AND Hellfire, regardless of any consequences.
Red hot Moloc.
Red hot Moloc.
Then, Belial rises. His name may mean “the worthless one”, but also “the one that does not rise”. He is “in act more graceful and humane;
A fairer person lost not Heav'n”.
A fairer person lost not Heav'n”.
What does this gentle fellow advocate? Do... nothing. Just chill in Hell, until Hell itself chills, God’s wrath diminishes, and maybe things get better.
He “with words cloath'd in reasons garb Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath, Not peace”.
“Be like water, my Liege”
He “with words cloath'd in reasons garb Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath, Not peace”.
“Be like water, my Liege”
After Belial, Mammon, the devil related to money and wealth. He, who Milton states that, even in Heaven, looked always downwards, to the ground. He affirms both ways are pointless.
Open war would bring destruction; regaining God’s affection would force them to go back to Heaven and serve. Sing Hallellujas, God forbid! I mean, Lucifer forbid.
Instead , “Let us [...] rather seek Our own good from our selves, and from our own Live to our selves, though in this vast recess, Free, and to none accountable, preferring Hard liberty before the easie yoke Of servile Pomp.
[...] We can create, and [...] Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain Through labour and endurance.”
Hard, (sorry) down-to-earth attitude.
Hard, (sorry) down-to-earth attitude.
The fourth one is the one, the legends go, that was able to fly: Beelzebub, the Lord of Flies,
“whom, Satan except, none higher sat”. He suggests there is “some easier enterprise”
“whom, Satan except, none higher sat”. He suggests there is “some easier enterprise”
“Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to LEARN What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, Or substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power, And where thir weakness, how attempted best,
By force or suttlety”
By force or suttlety”
And “By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole Creation, or POSSESS ALL AS OUR OWN, and drive as we were driven, The punie habitants, or if not drive, SEDUCE them to our Party, that thir God May prove thir foe,
and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge, and interrupt HIS JOY In our Confusion, and OUR JOY upraise In his disturbance”.
-> Someone down there has brainpower, after all.
-> Someone down there has brainpower, after all.
This last proposal — which was what Lucifer wanted to do all along, he being the guy who talks to the sinners to tempt them —is the one approved.
“We want the airwaves”.
“We want the airwaves”.
Fire, water, earth, and air. And air is the one the demons chose.
(One third of them lives there any way).
(One third of them lives there any way).
(Mr. @aaolomi, you may like this thread).
