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A Fulcrum of the Epic

Author: FengLi
Tutor: ZuoKui
School: Southwestern University
Course: English Language and Literature
Keywords: John Milton Paradise Lost Abdiel episode fulcrum of epic
CLC:
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2010
Downloads: 80
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Abstract


Abdiel is the name of the angel who rejected Satan’s fraud and criminal plan and remained faithful to God among the one-third rebellious angels in Milton’s Paradise Lost. Although the Abdiel episode holds a total of only about 243 lines in the epic, it has aroused hot and strong controversies among critics in terms of character evaluation, creative improbability, dramatic effectiveness and episodic function. To most critics the significance of the episode is out of question, although there are dissensions in specific functions of the episode on the epic.Based on close reading and comparative analysis, this thesis tends to explore Abdiel’s role in the epic as an antagonist to Satan, an example to Adam, and a demonstration of God’s justice. It is hoped that through the exploration on the three aspects this thesis can reveal the Abdiel episode is designed to be the strategic "fulcrum" of the epic and it is indispensable for the epic.As the antagonist to Satan, Abdiel forcefully proposes a sharp contrast to Satan who is the arch image of pride, bravado and disloyalty and in doing so he demonstrates his own piety, bravery and loyalty. Their military confrontation also stresses and symbolizes Milton’s belief that those who win on virtuous reasons must win on field combats. Meanwhile, Abdiel is drawn as the example Adam should follow when Milton endows both Abdiel and Adam with the similarly solitary situations to confront. The story of Abdiel is a necessity to be arranged to contrast with the fall of Adam in the plot development. The Abdiel episode is also needed in Milton’s epic intention as a demonstration of god’s justice, which not only proves that the presence of evil is part of the working of God’s "Eternal Providence" but also reveals that the Fall of Man is avoidable if man can properly use his free will. The Abdiel episode, small in words while significant in character creation, plot arrangement and epic intention, is indeed for the strategic "fulcrum" of the epic, serving an indispensable function to the whole epic.

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