The story of Paradise Lost by John Milton details...

The story of Paradise Lost by John Milton details disobedience and the fall of mankind from God’s grace. God preordained all that was and all that will be following his creation. The poems major themes are the obedience to God, the nature of the universe and ultimately the fall of mankind. These themes will be further explained thru Milton’s explanation of light and darkness. Milton’s conversations between Satan, Beelzebub, Adam and Eve illustrate the difference between their conflicting views on good and evil. Milton displays his hubris for stating he attempts something that has never been done before in writing this poem he requests the help of his muse. Themes are essential and frequently universal ideas explored in a literary work.†¦show more content†¦God ejecting him with all his strength and grace but to forever exist in the fiery pit of despair and death. Satan is angered at God because he created the earth for man. He would have enjoyed living on earth as man did if given the choice. This explains Satan’s jealousy toward Adam who was given everything willingly. His plan begins to unfold as he will prey upon mankind’s weakness fueling his vendetta against God. Satan does not want to be miserable, after over throwing God he wants other to suffer. In book nine he vows to destroy in one day what it took God six days and nights to create thus decreasing his number of followers. Thirdly the fall of man from grace concludes Milton’s poem. A preordained existence brings on a new interpretation of the story, God knew all that was and all that would be. In book one of Paradise Lost, Satan and Beelzebub plot to over through God thus destroying his greatest creation. The power of temptation is seen when Satan takes the form of the serpent both cunning and deceitful. He wanted â€Å"glory above his peers,† a seat of glory equal to that of God’s (1.39). Written in 1st Corinthians 15:22; human nature is tested as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, one’s mind will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. Satan approached Eve because he thought she would be easier to convince, consequently she did not have a very hard time convincing Adam either. Satan knew Adam would be wiser toShow MoreRelatedMilton and Classical Predecessors967 Words   |  4 Pagessimilarities between the works of Milton and his clas sical predecessors, such as Athenian bards Aeschylus and Sophocles, strongly suggest their inspiration upon his work. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Milton blatantly passed off the works of his influences as his own; his ingenuity manifests in the form of updated storylines and personalities for the characters in his epic poems, namely those in Samson Agonistes and Paradise Lost, both based upon stories in the Bible. With that in mindRead MoreWho Can Blame The Poor Little Demon?1596 Words   |  7 Pagesor not to eat an apple from the forbidden tree. Milton’s makes Satan an interesting character, almost a hero, although unwilling to repent, simply seeking his rightful place and when he cannot, and will not, he goes after God’s prized creations. Who can blame the poor little demon? Aren’t we accustomed to routing for the underdog? Milton gives Satan the gift of gab, intelligence and our viewpoint, which makes us see his point of view. Of all the poets who have introduced into their works the agencyRead MoreHierarchies of Importance in Paradise Lost1774 Words   |  8 PagesHierarchies of Importance in Paradise Lost A hierarchy is any system of persons or things that are ranked above one another and can be found throughout all natural environments and different aspects of life. Hierarchies provide structure and prevent chaos because there is an overpowering authority at the very top of the chain that makes sure every rank below stays in line. Through the epic poem Paradise Lost, it is apparent that John Milton believed that all of creation was built on the foundationRead MoreParadise Lost : Milton s Hidden Misogyny2846 Words   |  12 PagesOlivia McDonald FALL 2014 Milton and the Bible (Seminar) Professor Fulton Paradise Lost: Milton’s Hidden Misogyny Paradise Lost tells a tale infused with archaic gender hierarchies that were not at all unique to the traditions of Western patriarchy of the time. John Milton called upon the Classic traditions of the time, as well as his own cultural and religious norms, in order to retell the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. Milton’s Eve, despite being a more nuanced character than her BiblicalRead MoreThe Importance of Literature for Christians2056 Words   |  9 Pagescreation. In the first book of the Bible we are introduced to the story of Creation. â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.† God spoke the creation of the world into being. Palmer states â€Å"God begins His story by describing the creative power of words over chaos.† As Christians

Immorality and Inhumanity in the Pictures from Abu Ghraib Free Essays

One of the most serious blows to American society and reputation was the highly publicized scandal of maltreatment and abuse of prisoners in Iraq. These incidents, which were uncovered in 2004, happened in the Abu Ghraib prison complex and perpetrated by American personnel under the 372nd Military Police Company. The abuses came to public notice from the media, which was able to acquire extremely graphic images of the tortures taken by the soldiers involved in the incidents themselves. We will write a custom essay sample on Immorality and Inhumanity in the Pictures from Abu Ghraib or any similar topic only for you Order Now (Hersh, 2004) Following the incident, the United States Military charged those responsible for the crimes and demoted the officer in-charge of the U.S. prison system in Iraq. Until now, however, the American public and the world are still reeling from disappointment over the irrationality and immorality of such systematic acts of violence against the Iraqui prisoners which included various forms of physical, psychological, and sexual abuses. More disconcerting than the acts of the abuses, however, is the fact that the soldiers even took photographs of their crimes. The photographs show the prisoners in shameful conditions, either naked or forced to assume positions suggesting sexual acts with fellow prisoners. Undoubtedly, the photographs show not only violations of basic human rights according to the International Humanitarian Law but also disrespect to the Muslim culture and Islamic beliefs by the American soldiers involved. Among the most disturbing aspects of the photographs taken in the Abu Ghraib prison is the presence of a woman, Private Lynndie England, posing with her thumbs up while the prisoners are being subjected to inhuman treatment. In one photo she is shown posing with a fellow soldier while naked prisoners are made to form a human pyramid at the foreground. In another, she poses with the ubiquitous thumbs up sign while at the same time pointing to the genitals of hooded male prisoners lined up. Indeed, the gloating and happy image of Private England is a stark contrast to the cruelty and torment seen from the prisoners who are reduced to the state of animals. Thus, the pictures should provoke not only outrage from the public but should also lead to a reexamination of the kind of morality and basic sense of decency of military personnel such as England who could derive enjoyment from the clear suffering of her fellow human beings. It is an unfortunate incident that a woman, whom the public expects to be more sensitive to the feelings and emotions of her fellow human being, would be part of the ritual of dehumanization of the prisoners from the physical, emotional, and the psychological aspects of the torture. It is a disappointing fact that Private England, despite her gender, was able to tolerate highly sexualized abuses that were usually committed by men to show their dominance upon women: rape, brutality, and sodomy. Aside from being devoid of any sense of morality, the pictures violate public sensitivity and ethics. The purpose of the pictures and the intent of the people who took them therefore become questionable. These images where clearly not meant for an audience, but then, why take them in the first place? Did Private England and her cohorts need a remembrance of how they were once part of the violation and abuse of the Iraqui prisoners? Upon analysis, the pictures are not only proof of the lack of ethics and sensitivity of the soldiers but also signify a deeper perversion. The abuse of the prisoners, supposedly meant to prime them for interrogation by intelligence personnel, show the ugly characteristic of power play wherein the abusers took freedom upon their prisoners because of their perceived dominant position. Their main intent is to degrade the prisoners, to strip away their dignity as human beings, and to show them that they are powerless beneath the abusers’ hands. The pictures, then, are part of the ritual of abuse. By exposing the private parts of the prisoner and capturing the moment forever on film or on video, the perpetrators are breaking the person’s will, reducing him or her into an object. Unfortunately, the acts of the American soldiers reflect the corruption of the entire U.S. military. Hersh (2004) observes that the Abu Ghraib incidents occurred not only because of poor leadership from the direct commanding officer but because of the lack of accountability in the military’s chain of command. Moreover, the incidents are an indication not only of the failure of the United States Army but also of American ideals and society to instill respect for human rights and human dignity among its members. It is a great shame and a devastating blow for the world’s superpower and the supposed protector of Democracy, to be associated with blatant acts of human rights violations. It is in this aspect that the world will continue to be haunted by the images of prisoners from Abu Ghraib. For the people will always remember how Private England smiled and gave a thumbs up sign for the camera while other human beings were being treated as animals in the foreground. Indeed, the torture and abuse of Iraqui prisoners are symptoms of the breakdown of humanity; the images of the grinning the soldiers will therefore serve as a haunting reminder of the capacity of humans for boundless inhumanity. Works Cited: Hersh, Simon R. Torture at Abu Ghraib. 10 May 2004. The New Yorker. 31 March 2008. http:// www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/10/040510fa_fact How to cite Immorality and Inhumanity in the Pictures from Abu Ghraib, Papers