Hug

I would be interested in some comments on John Melton's PARADISE LOST. I am sure some of you have studied that great piece of literature.

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

Hug

I guess we did lose Paradise in 2008.

Carol Kelly

Amen! I read John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” in the 10th grade. I think it was about a pilgrim.

Hug

To start off, it was about how Satan was kicked out of Heaven and how Satan corrupted Adam and Eve.

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

Adam...??????
you mean Adam Schiff???
He'z about as corrupt as anyone can be.

Carol Kelly

Brilliant point!

Hug

Adam Schiff is a whole lot more corrupt than the original Adam was, but it is because of the original Adam's sin that we have Adam Schiff. The original Adam brought sin into the world and Adam Schiff is the sin.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Great book... Although it had its forced moments...

Satan started out almost as a heroic underdog... Portrayed as fighting against perceived tyranny...
Who can forget the lines "it's better to reign in hell, than to serve in heaven"....

In the later part of the epic Milton appeared to recognize this and portrayed Satan as more of a tyrant himself...

The battle in heaven was quite spectacular... Although I personally felt that the use of canons was overly cultural-centric to the time... I imagine that were Milton writing today he would include assault rifles, tanks and nuclear ordinance...

The scenes that describe Adam and Eve's first days in the Garden are among the most beautiful ever written... If you can find the audio book, they are great to listen to... Not just for the rhythm and beauty.. I believe Milton captured the wonder they must have felt perfectly....


The title itself is provocative... It certainly refers to man's fall from grace... But it could also refer to Satan's and the angels who rebelled with him....

Consider... What do angels and mankind have in common?

Why did God design this aspect into His two most beloved creations?

Hug

Canuckus, thank you for your comments. I knew you would have some interesting thoughts and you did not disappoint me. I do believe in angels and I have often wondered if an animal had an angel looking after it.

Did God create man to fill the void in Heaven after Satan was thrown out?

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Now that's a good question...

Did God create man before or after the war in heaven?

Imagine if the creation of man inadvertently led to the fall of Satan

Hug

I think Satan challenged God, so God had to throw Satan out of Heaven. That left a void in Heaven that God wanted filled, so God created earth and man to fill the void Satan left. Satan and his angels, Lucifer, Beelzebub and associates were a little upset, so Satan told his little crowd to wait for him in Hell while he went to find God's new creation which was called earth. Satan found Paradise with Adam and Eve and immediately set out to corrupt Adam and Eve to get even with God.

John Melton was blind, so he had to dictate "Paradise Lost" to his daughters. Great Literature.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Hmmm...

I'll have to look into it...

I know that Muslim theology states that God created man before Lucifer's fall from heaven... And that it was Lucifer's jealousy of man that led to his fall...

Paradise Lost takes a similar vein...

Off of the top of my head I can't think of the Jewish scripture that deals with the issue...

Must be the beer

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

He was amazing... Imagine the intellect it would take to remember what you had dictated hundreds of pages before and tie it in with the rest...

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

You folks are in rare form. Should make for another great day on the OPP.