tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post4062114128825130617..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: John Milton - Paradise Lost and SatanBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28957213139447769022014-01-20T17:45:23.454-05:002014-01-20T17:45:23.454-05:00Hi Maria.
Happy New Year.
I know how busy that ...Hi Maria.<br /><br />Happy New Year.<br /><br /> I know how busy that you have been. Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />I think that among other things Milton wanted to emphasize the tragedy of Satan's fall here. In doing so he needed to create a character that once exhibited great nobility. Fragments of that nobility remain.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-92164194338085030552014-01-20T11:12:18.976-05:002014-01-20T11:12:18.976-05:00Hey, Brian!
Happy New Year! I had not commented o...Hey, Brian!<br /><br />Happy New Year! I had not commented on your blog for a while,so am sending belated wishes for a wonderful 2014!!<br /><br />This is the type of serious reading I would really like to be doing more of. Although of course I have known about this classic for years, and remember studying portions of it in high school, I have never read it in its entirety. Well, as you might remember, I acquired a beautiful leather edition not that long ago, so I will definitely make plans to read it sometime this year.<br /><br />The portrayal of Satan is indeed unorthodox, but fascinating and psychologically complex. As interested as I am in why evil exists, and is allowed to do so by an Almighty God, I really should tackle this poem in its entirety. <br /><br />As always, thanks for the interesting commentary!! : )Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30951122995087522932014-01-01T14:26:16.843-05:002014-01-01T14:26:16.843-05:00Hi Rachel - Indeed I doubt the existence of God an...Hi Rachel - Indeed I doubt the existence of God and Satan. I do think that if God does exist we would be likely pondering the wrong topics.<br /><br />There is so much diversity in religious belief. I think that the God of the New Testament would likely love Satan. I do not believe that the God of the Old Testament or the Koran would not love him. Milton's conception of God seems to still love him to some extent.<br /><br /><br />Personally I am a strong believer in the value of loving, having empathy for, and forgiving others. However when it comes to those who consistently and maliciously hurt others, I feel very little love or empathy.<br /><br />Thanks for the great comment and have a Happy New Year!<br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61262745893748611652014-01-01T14:12:42.950-05:002014-01-01T14:12:42.950-05:00Satan's character in Paradise Lost is somethin...Satan's character in Paradise Lost is something I find quite fascinating, too. He's the very first anti-hero, and the foundation on which all later anti-heroes are built. <br /><br />I've often pondered the question "Does God love the Devil? And if so, are we supposed to love the Devil?" Instinct tells me that the Devil is one of God's creations (as is pointed out definitely in the Catechism of the Catholic Church), and therefore we ought to love him. At the very least, we should pity him. But I was also taught that we should hate the Devil. It's all a befuddled mess, isn't it? :)<br /><br />I suppose this mess is easier for me to handle as a spiritual philosopher, and easier for you because you're a philosophic atheist (I believe?). What fascinates me is the fact that the people who this question should bother the most are the people who don't pay any attention to it at all. The same people that glare at me when I ask such a question in the first place. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974988315420539840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61141479123906958902013-12-05T09:44:27.814-05:002013-12-05T09:44:27.814-05:00Hi harvee - i actually had no patience back in my ...Hi harvee - i actually had no patience back in my collage days. Do much youthful, nervous energy. I find that only now can I read these things.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-76522128932438957242013-12-05T09:13:06.163-05:002013-12-05T09:13:06.163-05:00I was so impressed by this in college, thought it ...I was so impressed by this in college, thought it was magnificent. Don't know if I'd have the patience to tackle it again though. Great project, Brian!<br /><br />Harvee<br /><a href="http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Book Dilettante</a>Harveehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490108303790217277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86196236432923589212013-12-05T07:06:20.766-05:002013-12-05T07:06:20.766-05:00Hi Delia- I think that Milton's work is a litt...Hi Delia- I think that Milton's work is a little more accessible then Dante's. at least. Satan was sure that he would not be able to control himself and that he would have rebelled again.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33497397374848896222013-12-04T21:40:01.117-05:002013-12-04T21:40:01.117-05:00Haven't read this one yet though it has always...Haven't read this one yet though it has always been a goal - some day, along with Dante's Divine Comedy. I think I may have enjoyed both of them more in prose, though.<br /><br />That having said, I find it intriguing that Satan considered returning into God's service. I wonder what would have happened had he done it.Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-85060433763925488972013-12-04T19:58:45.307-05:002013-12-04T19:58:45.307-05:00Hi James - Now the Devil's depiction in The Bo...Hi James - Now the Devil's depiction in The Book of Job is interesting and also offbeat. As I recall he seemed almost a friendly adversary of God. I believe the two made wagers in that story. It bears rereading.<br /><br /> I also think that God was interesting to say the least in that Book, doing all sorts of seemingly nasty things to prove a point.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49308383358785130312013-12-04T19:49:14.198-05:002013-12-04T19:49:14.198-05:00Your comments on Paradise Lost resonate with me in...Your comments on Paradise Lost resonate with me in two ways. First, reminding me of my own reading of the book almost two decades ago (I am overdue to reread this), but second, providing a fascinating contrast in the depiction of Satan when compared to his role in The Book of Job which I am currently rereading with a local study group. His image is powerful in Job, but Milton's poetry raises the stakes to another level.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5787176643937459632013-12-04T18:00:30.005-05:002013-12-04T18:00:30.005-05:00Hi Tracy - I hear you! Audiobooks do work for me b...Hi Tracy - I hear you! Audiobooks do work for me but only when running or working out.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58659687379477942712013-12-04T12:00:58.124-05:002013-12-04T12:00:58.124-05:00The audio book is not an option I'm afraid as ...The audio book is not an option I'm afraid as whilst I can sit for hours book in hand for some reason I get bored very quickly with these. Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-65405462429593067382013-12-04T05:27:54.478-05:002013-12-04T05:27:54.478-05:00Hi Guy - Without a doubt many books have a much gr...Hi Guy - Without a doubt many books have a much greater impact the second time around. First my reading comprehension has gotten better over the years. Second having read more and I understand how other literature and history connects up better with a poem such as this really opens the text up. Then I think that, at least for me, with maturity comes an appreciation of things that I may not have appreciated so much when I was younger. Finally, of course one picks things up the second time around that were missed on earlier attempts.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84685330786352239982013-12-03T21:42:05.250-05:002013-12-03T21:42:05.250-05:00I was going to ask if this was the first time you&...I was going to ask if this was the first time you'd read this, but I see in the comments that no, you've read this before. Don't you think that some books 'work' better as we age? Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33610368572100153392013-12-03T20:52:13.508-05:002013-12-03T20:52:13.508-05:00Hi Emma - If I recall I think that we discussed Da...Hi Emma - If I recall I think that we discussed Dante's inferno in the comments section of your blog some time ago. I love Dante's entire Divine Comedy. I found that this was much more accessible and less dense. I could not get through the Divine Comedy without notes. Of course this was written in English which is my native tongue and I have only read translations of Dante.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-57079793364077496712013-12-03T15:09:15.536-05:002013-12-03T15:09:15.536-05:00I was curious to read about it. I didn't know ...I was curious to read about it. I didn't know what it was about. For a native, it seems easier to read than I imagined. Have you read Dante? If yes, how does it compare to Dante's InfernoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86956122923670128872013-12-03T09:08:43.003-05:002013-12-03T09:08:43.003-05:00Hi Lindsay - Thanks for your kind words.
I am act...Hi Lindsay - Thanks for your kind words.<br /><br />I am actually thinking of trying to give this a listen in audiobook format myself.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55436143596060511232013-12-03T08:42:32.557-05:002013-12-03T08:42:32.557-05:00Hi Brian, this is a lovely post, and you've br...Hi Brian, this is a lovely post, and you've brought this to life for me - I knew only a little about it before and now I feel I know more through your words. I'm not sure whether it is a book I will ever read, but I like your suggestion above of listening to it in an audio book version.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731930823596505781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20097716807304145552013-12-02T21:07:56.357-05:002013-12-02T21:07:56.357-05:00Hi Naida - Without a doubt one would understand ho...Hi Naida - Without a doubt one would understand how this Lucifer would be God's favorite. This devil must have been a very attractive character before he fell.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49925547400718628952013-12-02T20:57:21.407-05:002013-12-02T20:57:21.407-05:00Interesting Brian. I have heard of Paradise Lost b...Interesting Brian. I have heard of Paradise Lost but had never read it. <br />Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic school from grades K-12, we all knew that Lucifer was God's favorite angel who fell from grace. Aside from biblical texts, I have never read anything else on the subject. I look forward to your upcoming posts of Milton’s work. It seems the way he is telling it is intriguing.<br /> The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-13420610176082525252013-12-02T17:48:42.423-05:002013-12-02T17:48:42.423-05:00Hi Heidi - Thanks for the good word.
I must read ...Hi Heidi - Thanks for the good word.<br /><br />I must read "On His Blindness". As a Poet, Milton was certainly impressive in so many ways.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-74458330649872859972013-12-02T17:47:11.128-05:002013-12-02T17:47:11.128-05:00Hi Tracy - As I commented above this can be a chal...Hi Tracy - As I commented above this can be a challenging work. As for having verse read to you I think that it is a fine idea. You could consider an audiobook version of this. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40372914417236440242013-12-02T17:45:34.887-05:002013-12-02T17:45:34.887-05:00Hi Sharon - i think to some extent that is true wh...Hi Sharon - i think to some extent that is true when it comes to good and evil and the way that it is portrayed. I think that the same is true about good as opposed to bad news. It was definitely true in Milton's case.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61507449140561656602013-12-02T15:59:43.431-05:002013-12-02T15:59:43.431-05:00How did I miss this post? Great comments. Milton i...How did I miss this post? Great comments. Milton is one of my favorite poets. One of his poems actually caused a turning point in my life: "On His Blindness." I love his writing style as well, particularly in this epic poem. I will eagerly look forward to your next post.Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-14849828094279955062013-12-02T13:13:54.786-05:002013-12-02T13:13:54.786-05:00On our shelves, my husband is forever encouraging ...On our shelves, my husband is forever encouraging me to read it but alas not a fan of this format to begin with - in my opinion verse should be something you have read to you rather than read by you - I find the thought of reading it daunting.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.com