Book II of Paradise Lost
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In Book II of Paradise Lost, John Milton presents an allegory of Sin and Death, two figures who appear at the gate of Hell and express certain thematic concerns developed throughout the poem. This leads to an ironic conclusion as the female form that has emerged full-blown from Lucifer's head expresses her duty to the being that fathered her. That figure is Sin, and the way she describes how she will stand by her father's side and reign is similar to the way Lucifer has described his own time in Heaven and his proposed reign in Hell. As she stands in relation to Lucifer, so Lucifer stands in relation to God. The creation of this figure is thus related to the expulsion of Lucifer from Heaven, and Lucifer is in effect recreating in his new realm the same relations that existed in the old, though now with himself as the central force and with others taking the role of followers. In the first five books of Paradise Lost, Milton tells the story of how Satan, having been cast out of Heaven, hears of the creation of two new entities in the Garden of Eden, and he and his minions plot how to seduce Adam and Eve away from dedication to God and into sin. The fact of sin also will mean that Adam and Eve are subject to death. So long as they are favored and are living in the garden, they will live forever. They lose their right to immortality when they transgress. In the second book, Milton shows how Satan creates Sin and Death, the two closely related figures who will become th
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Distinguishable in member, joynt, or limb, Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night, Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, And shook a dreadful Dart; what seem'd his head The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on (665-672).
Sin tells the story of how the fallen angels have been cast down into this fiery pit, at which time she was given her charge:
. . . down they fell
Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down Into this Deep, and in the general fall I also; at which time this powerful Key Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep These Gates for ever shut, which none can pass Without my op'ning (780-786).
Sin refers to Satan as her Father and her Author--he has not only given birth to her, he has invented her out of whole cloth as an author would have a thought and bring it to life. The subject of Paradise Lost is announced at the beginning--it is to be the story of man's first disobedience to God and the fact that man then lost Parad
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1619
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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