Hypocrisy and Equivocation

Hypocrisy and Equivocation

1. Undermines Satan

   • For a reader, he looks sophistical
     • 'Leviathan...which God created hugest'
     • 'by all-ruling Heav'n's high permission'
       • C.S Lewis says he shows 'nonsense of the intellect' and is 'sawing off the branch he is sitting on'
     • 'high words, that bore semblance of worth, not substance'
   • His greatest source of power
     • Oustide of Pandaemonium, 'plumb down he drops'. He relies on his language for power.
       • Language as powerful. Protestant need to translate Bible into English. Mechanicals' need to be able to preach. Clear theme.
     • 'raised by merit'...

2. Paradoxical

   • Powerful
     • Used to subjugate F.As
       • 'we shall be free'...
         • Again, parallel to Cromwell. The quote from Clarkson: 'have you not chosen oppressors to free you from oppression?' (1647)
       • 'awake, arise, or be forever fall'n'
       • 'who shall tempt...the dark unbottm'd abyss' and then 'prevented all reply'
       • 'seek our own good from ourselves'
       • with speedy words the Arch-fiend replied'
         • 'words so powerfully persuasive that he tends to win authority, not merely over the rebel angles...but the reader' (Rudrum)
     • Motivates rebellion
       • 'durst defy the omnipotent to arms'
       • 'power matchless, but with the th'Almighty'
       • 'who knew the force of those dire arms?'
         • 'it is no more surprising that we should be moved by these speeches than it is that crowds have been swayed by...Fascist demagogues' (Rudrum)
   • Baseless
     • Restricted to Hell
       • The idea that in Hell, they cannot name one another. Having lost their reasoning skills, they're vulnerable to sophistry.
       • Death recognises Satan as a 'false fugitive'
       • 'better to reign in Hell, than then serve in heav'n'
     • Only has power if given it
       • 'words, that bore semblance of worth, not substance'
         • The growth of mechanical preachers in the 1630s and 1640s; the move away from sophisticated, set readings of the Bible/ away from Biblical sophistry. Attack on bishops?

3. Symbolic of fall

   • Fallen cannot see it
     • 'not lost in loss itself'
       • Augustinan or even Calvinist view
     • 'flocking'
     • 'nor did they not perceive the evil plight'
   • F.As powerless to change
     • 'rejoycing in their matchless chief'
     • 'rose the Monarch'
       • Clear parallels to Cromwell et al. Milton didn't publish anything in support of them during reign and, as with Vane, became alienated after `the Dec. 1653 Protectorate
     • 'vain wisdom all, and false philosophie' in not understanding, they can't effect change
       • 'retain him or depose him...merely by right of being free born' (The Tenure) F.As lost this