Milton’s description of Hell in Paradise Lost, Book-1

Of all the narrative passages in Paradise Lost, Book-1, John Milton’s description of Hell stands out unique by virtue of its graphics pictorial quality and its evocation of a sense of gloomy terror. Milton presents Hell as a place designed for the eternal punishment of the fallen angels. Hell is a place for removed from the celestial seat of bliss. It is situated in the nethermost depth of abyss, and it takes nine days and nights to fall into this dreadful pit from heaven.

Hell is presented in several ways within Paradise Lost but there are three main techniques used by Milton. These include through his own commentary, through Satan and his speeches and also through Beelzebub. Additionally Hell is also presented through the techniques used by Milton, his structure, style and use of language. Throughout Paradise Lost Hell is presented as a place, but also as a stat of mind, which Satan refers to in his speech. Milton uses many opposites in Paradise Lost, contrasting Heaven with Hell, God with Satan, and good with evil. The contrast between light and dark exists in all of these opposites. The narrator characterizes the angels’ physical appearance as full of light, and the devils’ as shadowy and dark. Milton also uses light to symbolize God and God’s grace. The absence of light in Hell and in Satan himself represents the absence of God and his grace.

The opening scenes reveal Hell as a fiery, glittering place that reflects the corrupt souls of the devils. Milton establishes two opposing poles of evil and good, dark and light, and the action shifts to Earth, a region blessed by Heaven but vulnerable to the forces of Hell. Milton’s first description of Hell is full of negative emotive words, ‘obdurate pride’ and ‘steadfast hate’ are adjectives used by Milton to describe Hell and the emotive words appeal to the readers emotions ‘dismal’, ‘wast’. ‘A dungeon horrible’ suggesting torture, suffering and punishment, which is Milton’s intention as he wants you to think of Hell like this, with a pictorial image produced by his use of language.

Another significant feature to note is the hopelessness of Hell. Man can partly bear his pains and sufferings. Because he has an optimistic view that it will end sometime. But the complete hopelessness or frustration creates an inner disintegration. The fallen angels, who have brought Hell upon themselves, have no least hope, to get rid of from this ever damnation. So, they have to face it for eternity.

All the description of Hell are certainly terrifying and awe-inspiring. No doubt Milton’s object in describing Hell is two-fold. Firstly, it indicates the torments of the fallen angels. They have lost the bliss and joy of heaven forever. Secondly, in infuses (impart) a feeling of horror in the minds of readers.

From Satan’s talk we learnt that Hell is originally a part of Chaos. Essentially, Chaos is a region of disorder, uncertainly and darkness. It is opposed to the order, certainly and light of heaven. As Hell is originally a part of empire of Chase, we have to imagine it as being situated below haven. In fact, Hell is situated even below Chaos. In Dante’s Divine comedy, Hell is situated at the center of the earth but in Milton it is in the lowest depths Chaos.

Summing up our discussion, it can be said that, undoubtedly Milton give a vivid and effective picture of Hell in the Book-1 of Paradise Lost. It is a Place of torment, evoking the quality of sinister wilderness. It is a hopeless dungeon where all activity is inspired by the aim of wearing against Omnipotence. It is also to be noted that, the fallen angels are symbolically the human sinners on this earth.