|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
In John Milton’s, Paradise Lost, two great demons, Moloch and Belial, argue for and against another war on heaven. Their different rhetorical strategies are evident by the nature of their personality and arguments, how they address the audience, what motivates them, and their ultimate conclusions. Moloch and Belial have two distinctly different personalities. Moloch, a dangerous and commanding demon, is portrayed as the “strongest and fiercest spirit that fought in heav’n”(New & Messenger 337). He was the strongest demon that fought in heaven and, since he has been in hell, has become fiercer by despair. His disparity, in part, is due to his unwillingness to stay in hell and longing to return to heaven. Moloch not only wants to be the best warrior in hell but also the fiercest everywhere, including heaven. He seems to be impatient, bloody minded, and wanting to live and die by the sword. Belial can be seen as graceful and peaceful, and “a fairer person lost not heav’n”(337). Being an excellent orator allows him to be manipulative and very persuasive, but not always truthful as indicated in “but all was false and hollow though his tongue”(338). He has a gift to make the worse appear the better and uses reasoning to convince his audience. Belial can also be seen as slothful in nature, humane in action and known to enjoy life’s many vices. These very diverse personalities lead to different strategies when delivering their arguments on war to the crowd. Moloch addresses the crowd with a vengeance and wants to organize war, now. He has lost all respect and fear of God, and now wants to conquer heaven as well. Moloch sees himself as a warrior and wants to be “deemed equal in strength” (337) as God. As long as God is alive and Moloch is a prisoner in Hell, he feels he will never be able to be as powerful.
Approximate Word count = 1180
Approximate Pages = 4.7
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|