Book IV: The speaker says that he wishes that mankind would have been warned of Satan's plans so they could have avoided the whole temptation thing. Back to Satan. He's angry about losing the war against God, so he's taking that anger out on man. Poignant moment: He can never actually escape Hell because Hell is inside of him. He talks to the sun. He tells him he hates the rays it emits because it reminds him of what he used to be. He couldn't resist trying to defeat God. He is pretty distraught over the situation. He knows God will never forgive him. Even if God did let him back into Heaven, he would try to do the same thing over again. There will never be peace. Satan gets to the edge of Paradise. It's surrounded by a large hill. He can't climb the hill because there is overgrown brush. The only gate to get into Paradise is on the other side. Satan just hurdles over the hill. He lands right on top of the Tree of Life. He says it is "A Heaven on Earth." Next to the tree of life is the Tree of Knowledge. Paradise is, well, paradise. It's beautiful with fruit, flowers, trees, and even roses without thorns. Satan sees Adam and Eve. They're both naked. Eve has hair to her waist, while Adam's is to his shoulders. Eve is clearly subservient to Adam, but not his slave. She loves him. Satan is excited because he's about to drag these two to Hell with him. He comes down fro the tree and changes into the shape of a lion, then a tiger. He listens to Adam and Eve. Adam is convinced God is good because he gave them Paradise. They want for nothing, and they only have to follow one rule: don't eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Eve says, you are right. They go on to talk about how they love each other. Satan hates seeing this. They get Paradise and he gets Hell. He thinks it's a little unfair. Satan doesn't understand why they can't gain knowledge. He decides to seduce them with knowledge, and trick them into breaking God's one rule. In the meantime, he decides to talk to other angels who are in Eden. Gabriel is sitting, watching Paradise. Uriel comes to hang out with Gabriel. He talks about Satan coming to him earlier and says he realized that Satan was one of the fallen angels. Gabriel says they'll find out if someone snuck into Eden. Uriel leaves. Adam tells Eve that it's time for bed. Eve says she'll do whatever Adam says because that's God's will. They talk some more lovey-dovey chat. They head to bed. As they're sleeping, Gabriel tells his second in command, Uzziel, to check out south of Eden. He's looking with a group in the north. He commands Ithuriel and Zephon, other angels, to look throughout eden for Satan. They find him as a toad, whispering temptations into Eve's ear. Ithuriel touches Satan with his spear, turning Satan back into his normal shape. They ask Satan which fallen angel he is. Satan is like, if you don't know who I am, then you're low on the chain of commands. Zephon says that Satan looks different since the fall. He says Satan must answer to Gabriel. After some trash-talking, they take Satan to Gabriel. Gabriel realizes Satan is Satan and gets ready for a fight. Gabriel asks why Satan left Hell. Satan says that Gabriel isn't very smart if he had to ask that question. They talk badly about each other some more. Gabriel tells Satan to leave because he's outnumbered. Satan realizes there's no point in fighting, so he leaves.
Book V: Back to Eden. Adam wakes up, fully rested. He looks at Eve who looks like she has slept on the wrong side of the bed. She says she's had a rough night. She tells about a dream she had. She goes to the Tree of Knowledge, where an angel is sitting. He says that knowledge shouldn't be forbidden, and that she should eat the fruit. Eve tastes the fruit, the angel disappears, then she wakes up. Adam is a little worried after hearing this story. He says to not think about it any more because they can't eat the fruit. They leave the home and offer some prayers to God. Adam and Eve go to work. God is watching them, and calls Raphael to his side. He tells Raphael that Satan is being a nuisance in Eden. He commands Raphael to tell Adam. Raphael heads to Eden. Adam sees Raphael heading his way. Adam tells Eve to get food ready for their guest. She goes to pick the best fruit. Adam greets Raphael and invites him to lunch. Adam tells Raphael to eat. After they eat, Adam asks Raphael about Heaven. Raphael spouts off stories about obedience to God. Raphael says to Adam, you've been given Paradise, don't break the rules. He says those who don't obey God end up in Hell. He then tells the story of Satan's fall. Read the book if you want to get all the details.
Book VI: Still more about the fall of Satan and his crew of angels. Literally, the entire book is devoted the fall of Satan and the battle. It's pretty good, but long. I suggest you read it if you want to understand Milton's version of events. Back to the story. At the end of the book, Raphael tells Adam that he's done his best to try and explain things beyond human comprehension. He says that Satan is trying to tempt and seduce him with evil. That's the end of the book.
This was kind of an easy day, wasn't it? Tomorrow will be Books VII-IX.
Until then,
Cassy
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