Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sample Close Reading PL IX 421-427

These few lines emphasize the effects of Satan's fallen state on his connection to reality. The word "hap" (421) and the insistent repetition of "wish" (421,22,23) and "hope" (421,23) evoke luck and fortune. Within the world of the poem, of course, luck does not exist; God controls everything. Satan lacks the theological virtue of hope, which would teach him the vanity of wishes. Because he is not properly connected to God, he does not see reality as he should in its fullness. Thus, for him Eve is "veiled" (425) and "half spied" (426). At the moment he is poised to bring his plan to fruition he does not recognize the inherent goodness of God's creation.
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1 comment:

  1. Dockerye2403bThursday, February 19, 2009 at 11:21:00 AM PST

    Is there a journal due for tomorrow? Book IX because I see there are two parts, however, I already wrote about both parts as one journal.

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