Free Write: 12/03/2016

Free Write #1: 12/03/2016

      So my English class, we read an excerpt from John Milton’s work called Paradise Lost: Fall of Satan (Book I). Within this collection, it consisted of 12 books overall. John Milton purpose in the first book focuses on the consequences that occurs when God’s orders are justified, and the origin of how Satan had come about. Throughout the story, Milton portrays a divine-like tone and attitude—as if God himself or some other supreme spirit is speaking, thus concluding the sentence structures and other literary focuses to be challenging.

     Despite the challenges, this story was very absorbing to go over; I found out things that I never knew were there. An example would be in Satan’s right hand man, Beelzebub. I knew that when Satan wasn’t alone when he was sent down to Hell, though I never knew that the second best or the next in line after Satan is Beelzebub. In all honesty, I never knew that he exists. Another example was the “nine days and nights fall to Hell”; After Satan defying God, He [God] has thrown him and his renegades out of Heaven with one great thrust. The fall down to hell took nine days AND nights. It amazes me that it took that long.

     I later went online to learn more about Satan and Beelzebub’s relationship and Beelzebub’s origin, and the facts leaves me in awe. It turns out that Beelzebub is known as one of the Seven Princes of Hell. Each prince represents the Seven Deadly Sins, and he is known for gluttony. Satan represents wrath, though it confuses me knowing that Lucifer represents pride when in this excerpt, Satan was the represented both. I then realize that in the beginning he was recognized as Lucifer; once expelled from entering the gates of Heaven, he was then known as Satan. Also what I found out that Lucifer means “Light bringer”, and Satan means “Enemy.”

    So I thought to myself, “Since there are Seven Princes of Hell, would there be Seven Princes of Heaven?” Yes! According to the internet, they’re known as the Seven Archangels. An archangel is also known as the high ranking angel in Heaven. Each angel represent the seven days in a week.

      The introduction spoke about Man’s First Disobedience, or the original sin. As you know, Satan was the mastermind behind of it all. Though, I’ve always wondered why. Why has he done it? Why go against God when you knew you couldn’t stand a chance with him? Why trade happiness and paradise for the complete opposite? John Milton’s purpose also was to make people think otherwise of Satan. John Milton portrays Satan as the hero in this story, defying God, accepting his new faith in his new sanctuary, and not giving up on trying bringing down God. All these characteristics can be found in a hero.

     John Milton’s Paradise Lost: Fall of Satan was overall my favorite excerpt to go over in class because it questions the most highly-respected book of all time—the Holy Bible. I do sometimes question myself when I read the bible. I do believe in God and his kingdom, but having a different perspective on the characters within the holy books, most especially the infamous ones, catches my attention.