The Analysis of the Paradise Lost - Essay Example

Paradise Lost, War in Heaven Introduction Paradise Lost focuses more on Adam and Eve especially on how God created them andalso how they ended up losing their place at the Garden of Eden that was the Paradise. The same story revolves around the story presented right on the first page of Genesis by Lucinda Driven through a narrative poem (Driven, 43). In addition, the story also describes more on the originality of Satan, who was initially the Lucifer. Lucifer, who was an angel, had his followers who were anti-Christ that, in this case, made God send to them to hell. With his determination to revenge over this, Satan or the Lucifer, in other words, decided to bring the downfall of man by making them to eat the forbidden fruit in the Paradise or the Garden of Eden. Consequently, one may have the temptation not to believe in Christianity by basing on the reason on what could make God allow Serpent to revenge on His creation (God) if He truly loved them. Background Information The story of the Paradise begins from hell where both the Lucifer and his followers recover from the defeat after losing the battle initially in the war they had with God. For example, they constructed a monument that they referred to the Pandemonium where they were weighing the options of making a return to battle or just to forfeit it by accepting the defeat. Consequently, they also had the considerations of exploring the new world contained in the prophesies of creation for effecting the safe infliction of their planned revenge against mankind. As a way of enforcing their mission with full force, Satan decided to undertake the task alone minus engaging his followers. He feared that his followers might suffer extreme damage or run away from him during the battle (Driven, 45). At the onset of the mission, Satan made a return to the earth through the serpent. As a serpent, Satan enticed Eve upon meeting her alone to have a taste of the fruit of the forbidden tree. Adam also with no fate also decided to eat the fruit (McGovern 45). Consequently, the two lost their innocence and, as a result, came to their senses that they are naked. Followed by the urge to protect themselves from shame and despair of such scenario, they became hostile to each other. However, Adam and Eve reconciled with each other despite Gods order to angel Michael to expel them from Paradise. In addition, the angel showed the pair the consequences of disobedience to God due to eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. Adam got saddened upon imagining the consequences of the sin told to him by Angel Michael though he got relieved from the possible future help of Jesus (McGovern, 48). Though sad, Adam and Eve still went away from the Garden of Eden which was the Paradise, hence the lost Paradise to them Thesis Statement In “The War In Heaven” by Revard, Stella Purce, the devil and Satan identified as the dragon are defeated by the angels lead by Arcangel Michael. They are thrown down to earth and punished for opposing God. Revard relies majorly on the chapters from the Bible to articulate the arguments. According to the book of Revolutions, the war in heaven has been compared to the story of fallen angels and some possible findings have been proposed in the book of Hebrews and the Dead Sea. She views the war in Heaven as an eschatological vision of the end of time and as the spiritual war within the modern church. Whil in Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan is viewed as an angel who rebelled against God. Some Christians argue that the War in Heaven is not literal but symbolic of events on earth. Revard’s book teaches a lot about the formation of Heaven and Earth, the battle between God and Satan and why Satan changed from Angel to Devil. After proper understanding of the author’s methodology and research, I recommend his book for my friend despite the fact that he majorly based his findings on the Bible. Though the world is drastically taking the scientific direction, John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Revard’s War in Heaven still have a vast and important role to play in a religious society. The primary intention of Revard writing this book was to find a way of telling his views on the society, politics and evil doers in the modern church. She may also just have an interest in telling a story. She had a character speaking to her that wanted the story told, and Revard listened. She, therefore, decided to talk for those who can’t do it for themselves. Milton also followed a classical procedure by indicating the theme of his book as: · man’s first disobedience and fruitful · man brought death into the earth and all our problems · serpent as a spoiler He followed an epic convention of writing his book in a style that is understandable. The book vividly presents the story in a humankind point of view. Despite the fact that Satan in both books possesses some qualities of a hero, these are in vain and his self-claim to be at the same level with God is mistaken The Contribution of the Sources to the Reading A literary review of the Paradise lost and War in Heaven show that they give the consistency in the message conveyed. The main message is; the cause of Evil is Doubt. In addition, critical thinking is also evil. However, the reason for this does not exist nor has no generation. In a bid to understand the world, it is much better to know that the same world is at its unprofitable and pointless situation. In addition, the same world is at worst mainly on a straight road that leads to eternal torment. Similarly, virtue has an absolute obedience and blind belief (Sircy, 174). For instance, it insinuates that Satan is mused in ignorance that is indeed also is the total proof of the mankind’s obedience and faith (Sircy, 176). As already noted earlier, arguments from Satan in this article have no sense at all, more so, on the replies given. For instance, what made God permit the devils from hell when their main task was to allow them cause others to damnation? At the same time, why should God have value on ignorance and also envy those who gain the knowledge? Human beings are still unable up to date to give these arguments any serious consideration for their explanation that can lead to their dismissal. In Lucinda’s theology, moral goodness entails the rejection of the urge to learn and ignorance of all contradicting arguments. Additionally, the theology also consists of the analysis of the benefits of doubts in the event of the occurrence and also how to overcome them through the redoubling of an individual’s belief (Sircy, 179). Cases that entail the individuals who may seek to learn and also question the story pertaining to others who committed the same thing and found in misery and in this case, needs to have some consideration. For instance, the misery that they bring upon the mankind should not have found its way in occurring in the past as envisaged in the cautionary tale. Similarly, the message here shares the comparison subtle and a sledgehammer blow. According to McGovern, human beings should have the urge for satisfaction by the ignorant superstition. In addition, their rational and reasoning mind is the critical thing that they have and, for this reason, they should use it in the correct way so that it realizes the desired objectives. For the past centuries, there are inconceivable advances through the use of the science methodologies with the objective of vilifying the nature of the human philosophy and also the discretization of the intellectualism. Jonathan presents his argument that knowledge is much superior to ignorance. For instance, the case of Raphaels long monolog where he tells Adam on the nature of Satan is a quite warning. The instance has its evidence from the book of the Genesis. However, one may wonder whether the tacit admission of the story of Eden did leave God in a position of not able to provide the humanity with enough warning (Sircy, 181). On the same note, there is still need to evaluate on the occurrence of the events to Satan that, in this case, made Adam and Eves ignorance contribute towards Satans expulsion from the heaven. Comparing the epic where the Lucinda presents him as the ample opportunity suitable for creating apologies and also the self-justification, there are, however, some logical problems that still revolve around the theology. Similarly, there is evidence that God gives the defenses over his actions that are not enough. Jesus also regards Satans arguments as weak and also flawed that; in this case, makes Lucinda depict Satan as stuffy and always speechless all the time. For sure, real debates with the knowledgeable opponents are on the outcomes that do not have easy ascription and control. For this reason, Christians mostly do not fare well. In classical nature, Paradise lost entails the Medias at its middle of the action. For instance, in Lucindas article reveals the Satanic and his nature of being rebellious compared with the other angels. Their anger in this situation relies on the unconscious issue of burning of the lake found in the hell on the onset of their expulsion from the heaven. However, the power of the Almighty still managed to overcome the forces of the Satanic from this raged war (Driven 53). As a counteractive affair, Satan woke up and aroused his compatriots where they complained about the defeat they suffered and also on the sad state they found themselves in during such situations. However, they still didn’t admit to surrender and at the same time promised to have the best of their exile due to the infernal realm. According to Lucindas view, the other gods that human beings worshiped before were part of the devils group or members. Satan in this perspective managed to marshal his wide religions by use of speech and also the construction of places called the Pandemonium for worshipping. In their next move, the Satan’s members organized themselves in from of councils or executing the next move for war against the mankind. Needless to say, there is still the lack of explanation for the existence of evil. Firstly, Satan was already cast in the Hell and, as a result, has no opportunity to lower the Christianity value in the near future. By allowing the Satan to commit further crimes, there is indeed no way that would Satan to further get punishments that the already one he got before from God. Secondly, if God had in plans with Satan, then there is justification to prove that the same God’s plan never succeeded. The instance is because based on the Christianity Satan’s malice failed to serve the purposes of bringing the forth goodness and mercy. However, it only resulted in enormous, incalculable amounts of innocent suffering and death. Consequently, it will lead to the large majority of almost human kind getting condemned to hell forever with him (Driven 59). Satan already damned lied with a big a question on how to accomplish for God and also how others down with him. Position and Take Paradise lost in its epic point of view through the sense of word gives a vast and ambitious scope coupled with powerful and move in its language. At the same time, War in Heaven has vivid depictions of a plot that proceeds inevitably from the initial bliss to the final torrid fall. For this reason, the fiction emerges as one the superb fictions for one to read and watch the two books. As an evaluation of the current occurrence of the events, there is a reason to justify the false nature of the story presented from the story of Paradise that also proves unacceptable. As much as the works from the sources may trigger one not to become a Christian, it is also still justifiable to accept the conception of the infinite punishment for the finite sins. For instance, it is incompetent to allow for the omnipotent of God’s nature to get thwarted. At the same time, it is still flagrant and also revolution oriented to allow for discrimination from sex to take place in a repeated style of women who have the inferior men in every particular respect. Finally, it also remains anti-humanistic view to go for the values of the blind faith and the obedience together with the knowledge and understanding. In this case, the many logical contradictions that come with inherent in the Christian system are also a factor to note on in this perspective. For this reason, there is a reason to appreciate the value of the topic, Paradise lost however, and there is a reason also to reject the theology that comes with it. All Christians are not the same. For instance, many of them are not for the doctrines of the inequality of women, condemnation for the honesty in questioning and also the literal interpretation of the ideas from facts contained in the book of Genesis. In this case, there is need to applaud the courage though there may be a reason not deny the ideas from the Bible teachings. Consequently, the solution does not call for the disowning of these facts or retaining the beliefs as contained in the other sections of the Bible. However, the solutions from the bible based on the anti-humanistic, claims lie aside entirely. For instance, there was no Past Paradise from which the humanity fell from the crime on the basis of understanding the nature of the world. In addition, the future lacks the hell that those who still question themselves and also still think about themselves at the same time. An investigator, in this case, should not fear to carry out the investigation on the issue of the Paradise Lost. Human beings often fall as much as they are sinners and wretched too. At the same time, human beings are equal. When they wake up from the myths of dreams of the past, they will be able to know and understand the much bright light of the world and the truth behind it. It is through these instances that defines the understanding of the true elements of the earthly paradise. Works Cited Driven, Lucinda. Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained. Eastern Christian Art 5.0 (2008): 43-57. Web. McGovern, Thomas V. Paradise Remembered, The Fall, Paradise Lost.. PsycCRITIQUES 58.1 (2013): n. pag. Web. Sircy, Jonathan. Educating Milton: Paradise Lost, Accommodation, And The Story Of Paradise Lost, For Children. Milton Quarterly 45.3 (2011): 172-186. Web Detailed Analysis of Sources 1. Name of Website Eastern Christian Art Title of Article Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained URL http://www.researchgate.net/.../270436171_Paradise_Lost_Paradise. Publisher of Website Research Gate Author of Article Driven, Lucinda. Date Published or Last Updated 2008 Type of Site Journalistic site Summary of Main Points The journal devoted to studies in Christian art and archaeology in the Middle East. 2. Name of Website Paradise remembered, the fall, paradise lost Title of Article Paradise Remembered, The Fall, Paradise pag. URL http:// www. psycnet.apa.org/critiques/58/1/3 Publisher of Website American Psychological Association Author of Article McGovern, Thomas V. Date Published or Last Updated 2013 Type of Site Journalistic site Summary of Main Points The article presents the loss of Paradise due to the deceit that the human beings got from the Serpent. It again evaluates on the possibility of regaining the lost paradise in future. 3. Name of Website Educating Milton: Paradise Lost and Accommodation, Title of Article Educating Milton: Paradise Lost, Accommodation, And The Story Of Paradise Lost, For Children URL http:// www. onlinelibrary.wiley.com › ... › Vol 45 Issue 3 Publisher of Website John Wiley & Sons Author of Article Sircy, Jonathan. Date Published or Last Updated 2011 Type of Site Journalistic site Summary of Main Points The article focuses mainly on the issue of enhancing the knowledge of the fallen Paradise among the children. For instance it aims at ensuring that children understand the origin of sin and death in particular. Read More