Debate for Days

The devils’ debate in book 2 is kind of weird.  It starts off with Satan opening a can of worms (not out of character… one would think that they would learn from the last time he had a grand idea) and saying that he believes that they still might have a chance to invade Heaven and take over.  Which is kind of ridiculous considering where he is standing and saying this.  This is another moment where Satan shows his true colors of being an all-powering manipulator for evil. 

So, when Satan says this of course Moloch jumps right up and says that he is totally down to take over and fight and win.  He thinks with the weapons of Hell they could over throw God.  Although, his main point is that they have nothing left to lose, but they do which Belial quickly points out.  He says that this is a horrendous idea and that they do in fact have lots to lose; they could be put back in the fiery lake.  He also states that he believes that if they are good God might forgive them and let them live a better life.   I believe that this is the best decision.  Why push it? I know the saying, “It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission,” but in their case they already are asking for forgiveness.  They are already in the Hellion doghouse; they need forgiveness because they are fresh out of permission. 

But, this wouldn’t be in our English class if the devils decided to sit around and behave and pray for forgiveness.  So, here comes Mammon saying he will never ever, ever be getting back together with God. He enlists the idea of making a Heaven part two in Hell.  Everyone thinks this is splendid, but Beelzebub wants more.  He wants to find and destroy the new world filled with the new race: humans.  Of course, up hops Satan and offers to go look for this new race.  Classic Satan.

All these positions in the debate are important.  They help form a character study of each devil and in turn the devils as a whole working unit.  When Moloch jumps up to fight another identical war to what they just lost it embodies the idea that he is so angry and prideful that he is willing to do anything to get what he wants.  Then when Belial decides to try to do what God says it adds an idea that maybe the devils are salvageable, but then further reading leads one to believe that he doesn’t want peace, but he is just lazy.  By having this debate Milton is able to help the reader form an opinion of the devils and show their true colors.  He adds insight to there inner workings. 

Renaissance Figure or an Idiot?

The Renaissance era came after the medieval era, but not without some debate.  Some scholars would debate that the Renaissance era brought all these neat and cool ideas to the forefront, pushing philosophy, science, and the arts forward. However, others would argue that the Renaissance did not just have this spark of genius and that everyone before them was not just a bumbling fool.  Long story short, was Dr. Faustus a misunderstood Renaissance figure with some neat ideas on life or was he an idiot?  I think a little bit of both. 

            For starters, the medieval period was circular around God, Catholics, Protestants, and picking sides. Neither side condoned magic. So when Dr. Faustus decided to take up black magic he denounced both churches.  He decided that he did not believe in Christianity, therefore signing his soul to the devil, because why not? Whether the logistics of his though process are sound or not, he still had an idea of focusing his spirituality in the Renaissance camp of scientific thought through exploration.  His interest in trying to gain power over materialistic things, and controlling nature, he is leaving the older ways and into a more modern mindset. 

            Although, Dr. Faustus is a smart man to accomplish the schooling that he did early in life, he probably wasn’t signing his soul away to become some heroic trailblazer for satanic followers in sixteenth century Europe.  More likely, judging by his character, one can assume that he is just an idiot.  Instead of thinking his new idea of doing black magic through, he just listens to his friends. Which come on, didn’t his mother ever tell him not to do something just because all the cool kids are doing it?

            Furthermore, when he summons a devil he believes that he did it all on his own, when the devil just came because God’s name was being used in vain.  Dr. Faustus then argues with the devil about why the devil came, like an idiot.  Like really, your going to argue with the devil about why he decided to come or not?  Then he’s going to follow that up with telling the devil that he just doesn’t have tough enough skin to deal with hell, when he’s never even been there.  Then denounce hell as a place all-together. 

            Finally, at the very end of Act Five, Dr. Faustus finally comes to the realization that signing your soul away to the devil maybe isn’t worth not having to be bored in church.  However, he is still stubborn at he end of his life that he still doesn’t repent and try to save himself.  Then again, even if he did try to change his mind he would probably just get distracted by some dancing deadly sins and forget why he wanted to repent in the first place.