"Paradise Lost:" A Comment

In our last class discussion of "Paradise Lost," particularly, Book III, it was argued that Milton’s portrayal of God and the Son of God appear unimaginative and non-authoritative. And their soliloquies are ineffectual and lack poetic “sublimity.” When God, “sitting on his throne, foretells his Son sitting at his right hand, the success of Satan in perverting mankind / The Son of God freely offers himself as a living sacrifice:” “Behold me then, me for him, life for life / I offer, on me let thine anger fall,” (III, 236-237), may seemingly pale in comparison to Satan’s “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.” Needless to say, that is an enticing argument. However, Milton counter argues with a subtle portrayal of God and power: as perceptive, insightful, unimposing, and sacrificial.