Paradise Lost: Book And Genesis Analysis
Cory A. Urlacher
English 306
Dr. Held
11 December 2015
Milton and Genesis Milton’s Paradise Lost is essentially the book of Genesis on steroids. Looking specifically at Book three and seven of Paradise Lost we will notice many descriptions and events that have been added to the book. The three most noticeable differences in Paradise Lost (book three and seven) compared to the book of Genesis in the Bible are: the devil’s use of Uriel to get to Earth, both the process of Jesus being asked to be the savior of the world and the dialogue between God and Jesus, and the use of the archangel Raphael to warn the oncoming temptation of Satan in book seven. All three of these are not mentioned in the Bible, and have been added by Milton to add excitement, …show more content…
Uriel is a key figure in this book for many reasons. The first reason is that it shows just how naïve and ingenuous the angels are (to Milton). In Paradise Lost, it says that, “For neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy – the only evil that walks is invisible, except to God alone, by his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth” (3.682-685). Secondly, Uriel is the reason that Satan finds Earth. Both of these two fictitious details are added for entertainment, and to open the use of angels in the story. The angels seem so powerless compared to Satan, but he, as they are, was once an angel. The Bible’s first reference of Satan comes from Genesis 3:1-3:5. This is where the fall of Adam and Eve occurs and it is really described in vague terms. The Bible says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). This is the first of five whole lines that are mentioned about Satan in Genesis. Satan plays a rather limited role in Genesis, only taking up three lines of the whole book. There is very limited detail on Satan tricking and manipulating Adam and Eve. This is much different from the way John Milton approaches the text in Paradise Lost. John Milton follows Satan throughout his whole journey. Milton gives the perception that Satan had to search for Adam and Eve and that God tried to hide Earth and humans from him. This gives readers the inevitable feeling that Milton thinks God isn’t as powerful as most of those reading this text think he is. Satan is fortunate enough to run into the archangel Uriel (not once mentioned in the Bible) and convinces him to point out where to find “man.” For a split second we are convinced that Satan is craftier and more powerful than all of the angels. We most note though that a Uriel is not just a normal angel. Uriel is one of the seven
English 306
Dr. Held
11 December 2015
Milton and Genesis Milton’s Paradise Lost is essentially the book of Genesis on steroids. Looking specifically at Book three and seven of Paradise Lost we will notice many descriptions and events that have been added to the book. The three most noticeable differences in Paradise Lost (book three and seven) compared to the book of Genesis in the Bible are: the devil’s use of Uriel to get to Earth, both the process of Jesus being asked to be the savior of the world and the dialogue between God and Jesus, and the use of the archangel Raphael to warn the oncoming temptation of Satan in book seven. All three of these are not mentioned in the Bible, and have been added by Milton to add excitement, …show more content…
Uriel is a key figure in this book for many reasons. The first reason is that it shows just how naïve and ingenuous the angels are (to Milton). In Paradise Lost, it says that, “For neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy – the only evil that walks is invisible, except to God alone, by his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth” (3.682-685). Secondly, Uriel is the reason that Satan finds Earth. Both of these two fictitious details are added for entertainment, and to open the use of angels in the story. The angels seem so powerless compared to Satan, but he, as they are, was once an angel. The Bible’s first reference of Satan comes from Genesis 3:1-3:5. This is where the fall of Adam and Eve occurs and it is really described in vague terms. The Bible says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). This is the first of five whole lines that are mentioned about Satan in Genesis. Satan plays a rather limited role in Genesis, only taking up three lines of the whole book. There is very limited detail on Satan tricking and manipulating Adam and Eve. This is much different from the way John Milton approaches the text in Paradise Lost. John Milton follows Satan throughout his whole journey. Milton gives the perception that Satan had to search for Adam and Eve and that God tried to hide Earth and humans from him. This gives readers the inevitable feeling that Milton thinks God isn’t as powerful as most of those reading this text think he is. Satan is fortunate enough to run into the archangel Uriel (not once mentioned in the Bible) and convinces him to point out where to find “man.” For a split second we are convinced that Satan is craftier and more powerful than all of the angels. We most note though that a Uriel is not just a normal angel. Uriel is one of the seven