Page 181 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

British Poetry

Notes to lose by another attack. Belial speaks up to contradict him. He eloquently offers calm reason to
counter Moloch’s fiery temper, and claims that God has not yet punished them as fiercely as he
might if they went to war with him again. After all, they are no longer chained to the fiery lake,
which was their previous and worse punishment; since God may one day forgive them, it is better
that they live with what they now have. But peace is not really what he advocates; rather, Belial
uses his considerable intelligence to find excuses to prevent further war and to advocate lassitude
and inaction. Mammon speaks up next, and refuses to ever bow down to God again. He prefers to
peacefully advance their freedom and asks the devils to be industrious in Hell. Through hard work,
the devils can make Hell their own kingdom to mimic Heaven. This argument meets with the greatest
support among the legions of the fallen, who receive his suggestion with applause.
Quiet falls upon the crowd as the respected Beelzebub begins to speak. He also prefers freedom to
servitude under God, but counsels a different course of action than those previously advocated.
Apparently, he says, rumors have been circulating in Heaven about a new world that is to be created,
to be filled with a race called Man, whom God will favor more than the angels. Beelzebub advises,
at Satan’s secret behest, that they seek their revenge by destroying or corrupting this new beloved
race. The rest of the devils agree and vote unanimously in favor of this plan. They must now send a
scout to find out about this new world, and in a feat of staged heroics, Satan volunteers himself.
While the other devils break into groups to discuss the outcome of the debate and to build other
structures, Satan flies off to find Hell’s gate. When he approaches, he sees that it is actually nine
gates—three each of brass, iron, and adamantine—and that two strange shapes stand guard in front.
One looks like a woman down to her waist, but below has the form of a serpent, with a pack of
howling dogs around her waist. The other is only a dark shape. Satan chooses to confront the shape,
demanding passage through the gates. They are about to do battle when the woman-beast cries out.
She explains to Satan who she and her companion are and how they came to be, claiming that they
are in fact Satan’s own offspring. While Satan was still an angel, she sprang forth from his head, and
was named Sin. Satan then incestuously impregnated her, and she gave birth to a ghostly son named
Death. Death in turn raped his mother Sin, begetting the dogs that now torment her. Sin and Death
were then assigned to guard the gate of Hell and hold its keys.
Apparently, Satan had forgotten these events. Now he speaks less violently to them and explains
his plot against God. After Satan’s persuasion, they are more than eager to help him. Sin unlocks
the great gates, which open into the vast dark abyss of night. Satan flies out but then begins to fall,
until a cloud of fire catches and carries him. He hears a great tumult of noise and makes his way
toward it; it is Chaos, ruler of the abyss. Chaos is joined by his consort Night, with Confusion,
Discord and others at their side. Satan explains his plan to Chaos as well. He asks for help, saying
that in return he will reclaim the territory of the new world, thus returning more of the universe to
disorder. Chaos agrees and points out the way to where the Earth has recently been created. With
great difficulty, Satan moves onward, and Sin and Death follow far behind, building a bridge from
Hell to Earth on which evil spirits can travel to tempt mortals.

Analysis

Just as Book I may be seen as a parody of military heroism, the devils’ debate in Book II can be read
as a parody of political debate. Their nonviolent and democratic decisions to wreak the destruction
of humankind shows the corruption of fallen reason, which can make evil appear as good. Milton
depicts the devils’ organization ironically, as if he were commending it. Satan, for example,
diplomatically urges others “to union, and firm faith, and firm accord,” making Hell’s newly formed
government sound legitimate and powerful when it is in fact grossly illegitimate and powerless
(II.36). It is possible that Milton here satirizes politicians and political debates in general, not just
corrupt politicians. Certainly, Milton had witnessed enough violent political struggles in his time
to give him cause to demonize politicians as a species. Clearly, the debate in Hell weighs only
different evils, rather than bringing its participants closer to truth.

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