Analysis of Paradise Lost (351-400)

Analysis of Paradise Lost (351-400)

Lines: 351-355

The fallen angels were numerous like the populous Barbarian who attached the Rome come from North after crossing the rivers Rhine and Danube spread like the deluge on the south and crossed the Gibraltar and Libya. 

Lines: 356-375

At once the leader of every squadron and every group stood and went where their great commander was standing. Their shapes were like God and their forms were like super human, they were the dignities. They were the angles who sat on the thrones of Heaven. Now their names were removed from the Heaven’s list after their revolt against the God. Their rebellion also caused removal of their names from the Book of Life, nor furthermore they were not among the sons of Eve. However they were permitted to live on the earth after getting the new names so that they put the virtue man on test. What they have is the falsehood, lies, deception and deceived to get the man astray to take the revenge from the God. God gave them the invisible glory and transform them into beasts to get the men astray to adored them and devilish images. These fallen angels are known by various names and images by men and various idols through the heathen world.  

Lines: 376-400

Milton is again invoking the Muse for assistance in recalling the names of the falling angels who aroused from the fiery lake, who was the first one and who was the last on the call of their great emperor when he was standing alone on the empty shore. The multitude of angels standing alone. Between them the chief were those who dared to come out of the bottomless hell roaming on earth to seek their prey long after their fall and established their seats of worship so that astray human being prey to them and worship them.  They fought with Jehovah at Sion. The worship of true God has been replaced by the worship of heathen gods. The heathen idols were placed within the shrine itself. Abominations and cursed things replaced the holy rites.  The festivities were replaced by profanity. The first fallen angel who got out of the abyss of Hell was Moloch to whom human sacrifices were made. At the places of worship drums and timbrels were beaten loudly so that the cries of the sacrificing children could be heart by anyone while passing the children through fire. Ammonites worshiped Moloch in Rabbah (now Amman, Jordan) and its outskirts in Argob (near Dead Sea) and in Bassan to the rive Arnon.   Still Moloch was not content in receiving the worship in and from the neighborhood of Israel.