Book II opens with Satan and others of his ilk arguing whether or not to make another assault on Heaven. The setting is before the Creation of Man and the universe.
In imagining the dialogue between the various evil spirits, Milton gives us insight into the human condition.
One character, a king by the name of Moloch, wanted to be equal in strength to God. If he could not be God's equal, Moluch preferred not to exist at all. Moluch argues for open and all out war. He cares not for subterfuge or contrivances. Why, literally, rot in hell when each moment could instead by spent in an all-out frontal assault on Heaven? If God is invincible, then Moluch argues that Satan and the others must so upset Him that they will all be destroyed - and thus end their otherwise eternal suffering. If they have nothing more to lose, then what do they have to fear, asks Moluch? Even if they cannot actually overcome God, they can instead constantly alarm Him - and thus gain, at least, some measure of revenge. They can take pleasure, it seems, in the struggle. Doesn't this remind you of different groups of people who get a perverse pleasure in throwing a monkey wrench into anything and everything? If I can't have it, no one can! If I'm not happy, no one will be happy!
On the other side rose up a evil character named Belial, a dignified and graceful looking creature, who unfortunately was "all false and hollow."
. . . 'though his tongueAre we not reminded in these times of this type of character - One whose words drop like manna, and who perplexes and destroys even the maturest contemplation, yet whose thoughts are low and who works hard for evil, but for good deeds is lazy and timid? Certain lawyers, law professors, politicians anyone?
Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear
the better reason, to perplex and dash
maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low;
To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds
Timorous and slothful: yet he pleased the ear, . . .
Belial points out that Moluch bases his courage on his utter despair, seeking only revenge. Belial contends that Heaven is unassailable, and cannot be taken by surprise. Belial notes that Moluch seeks to end all suffering by being destroyed. Belial argues that this would be a sad cure, for they would lose all sense and motion, all intellectual being. Besides, it is unknown whether God can destroy, and even if God could, He would surely not completely reverse His creation.
Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire,Belial recognizes that God is All-Knowing, All-Powerful. Belial argues that should God choose to punish them further, surely their fate could be worse.
Belike through imptenceor unaware,
To give his enemies their wish, and end
Them in his anger whom his anger saves
To punish endless?
Belial argues that their fate is well deserved, and they should justly suffer the sentence of their conqueror. God may forgive them, or they may grow more accustomed to hell, and at any event they still have hope if they do not offend God anew. In other words, Belial counseled, because God cannot be deceived or tricked, and cannot be overcome . . . doing nothing - accepting their fate, which was well deserved.War, therefore, open or concealed, alike
My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile
With him, or who deceives his mind, whose eye
Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height
All these our motions vain sees and derides,
Not more almighty to resist our might
Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles.
Mammon then spoke in favor of staying where they were and creating as much evil as possible, but not a direct War on Heaven. If one is at war, there is always a chance, argues Mammon. Mammon states that he would not want to be forgiven by God, since if he was then allowed into heaven he would spend eternity worshiping the One that Mammon hates. Better to live free and accountable to no one, argues Mammon. The devils will essentially have their own glory in creating adversity and harming others. Essentially, Mammon counsels them to take pride in doing evil. We can always Imitate light, even if we are not of the light. Essentially, Mammon argues for the terrorist strike, the occasional atrocity, but not all-out War. Sound familiar?
Next spoke Beezlebub, the second highest in Hell next to Satan. Beezlebub states they should instead learn more about Man, who is rumored to be created soon, and corrupt Man, in the hope that God will abolish His own creation, once it has been intermixed with Hell. Beezlebub points out that the corruption of God's favored creation (man) would cause great pain to God. At this, the entirety of Hell supports the plan.
Satan then announces that he alone will carry out the plan, search out this new creation, Man, and corrupt Man. Satan's search for earth, and Man, is then described.
Milton sheds light, in Book II, on the motivations of various types of people who suffer the character flaws Milton places in various inhabitants of Hell. Like most poetry, its a bit of work to figure out the meaning, and somewhat slow reading, but well worth the effort. I find it sometimes helps to just read the work quickly, and first get the overall gist of a passage, before going back to decipher it word for word.
