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20091027-11 Paradise Lost, day 3 (Group 3)

Page history last edited by cdrumwr@... 14 years, 5 months ago

Summary

 

 

We began class by returning to the argument that Satan may perhaps be the hero of Paradise Lost. William Blake first brought up the fact that Satan could be the hero of Paradise Lost, and he also stated that Milton seems to sympathize with Satan in the poem. In addition, we stated the two major themes of the work: Man's first disobedience and justifying God's way to man. We began our main discussion in Book 9 of Paradise Lost. The central topic of our discussion was that of free will. The argument between Adam and Eve over separating revolves around the concept of free will and how it should be used. Eve's main argument of why she should be able to leave is that their love needs to be tested, and Adam wishes that Eve would stay with him, but he lets her go because of her free will. We also discussed this analogy; God is to Adam as Adam is to Eve because what Adam is for God, Eve is for Adam. After talking about Adam and Eve's argument, we went on to discuss how Satan persuades Eve into eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Satan, disguised as a snake, persuades her using flattery and he makes Eve question the reason that God would forbid them to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. We discuss how commandments are faith based, and how Satan is able to convince Eve to eat the apple once she thinks that it is a petty crime. The last thing we discussed is the role of women in society. Women are still viewed as a weaker sex in Milton's time. For instance, Eve is captivated with her reflection in Book Four, and Eve is the one that takes the fall of man.

 

Word Count: 297

 

Passages

 

How we might best fulfil the work which here

God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass

Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found

In woman, than to study houshold good,

And good works in her husband to promote.

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed

Labour, as to debar us when we need

Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,

Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse

Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow,

To brute denied, and are of love the food;

 

Paradise Lost Book 9 pg 203, Lines 230-240

 

This passage is important because it is part of Adam's argument to Eve that they should not separate because they are not even required to Labor in the Garden. He says they are different from the beasts of the garden because of their free will thus allowing them to reason and love. 

 

We shall be free. Th' Almighty hath not built

Here for His envy, will not drive us hence.

Here we may reign secure, and in my choice

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven!

 

Paradise Lost Book 1 pg 10, Lines 259-263

 

Here Satan explains that he wants free will.  He would rather as the last line states reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven. This choice alone proves that he already has free will. 

 

"Though both

not equal as their sex not equal seemed:

For contemplation he and valor formed,

For softness she and sweet attractive grace:

He for God only, she for God in him."

 

Paradise Lost Book IV, Lines 295-299 (page 86)

 

Here Milton shows how women are viewed in his time and how Eve is viewed in the bible. The passage clearly states that the male and female sexes are not equal. As a man Adam is closer to God and he was created for God himself while Eve was created for the God in Adam. Adam is described as strong and "valor formed" while Eve's most positive qualities are those of "softness" and "sweet attractive grace". Other passages similar to this one-describing women and how they are viewed- suggest that women are vain and the fact that Satan tempts Eve with flattery shows that she highly values her looks.

 

Terms

 

Faith- Believing in something that is not seen.

Commandments- Rulesgiven by God that are faith based.

Free Will- One who has control of their actions and decisions.

 

Comments (2)

cdrumwr@... said

at 9:53 pm on Oct 28, 2009

Even though I got to 300 on the word count I think it still needs major work. We also need 2 more passages. Please help and finish the summary. I'll be back on later to proof read.

Brian Croxall said

at 1:00 pm on Oct 30, 2009

Your notes for Tuesday's class are very good. The summary doesn't bog down in details about what Adam and Eve each say but instead cut right to the heart of the matter of free will and the main arguments that each presents. One thing that I want to be sure that you don't miss is the fact that the temptation is not just about questioning the reasons that God gives for not eating the fruit, but is rather all about free will. She places her reason/logic/free will over God's. In this she becomes like Satan who has always had free will, but just hasn't understood that free will is possible in connection with commandments (I would have liked to see you make this point more plainly in connection with your second passage as well). I'm glad that you also discussed the representation of Eve in the text.

You picked good passages, but I think that you can expand what you say about them a bit more in the future. The third one does an appropriate amount of discussion.

On the whole, though, these are good notes.

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