What are the main positions suggested by the chief devils within the debate? Summarize these positions and comment on how Milton develops the rhetoric of hell.
Moloch takes the first position when he suggests the devils make open war on Heaven. He makes the argument that nothing could be worse than they have it in hell now. Belial then steps up and counters that, saying that God has not punished them as harshly as he might if they did attack again, pointing to the fact that they are no longer chained to the lake of fire for evidence. Mammon then steps up and suggests that they be industrious in hell, making it a heaven. This position takes root until Beelzebub stands up and speaks. He instead suggests that they go and corrupt what God has created, making sure that His creation cannot last in perfection. The demons enjoy this idea and Satan then steps up, volunteering to explore the unknown and go to Creation. With his speech, Satan at once establishes his power over the demons and portrays himself as the tragic hero of them all. Now Satan sits unquestioned as god of hell. Milton sets a very interesting rhetoric for hell here, in which it is a gilded democracy. With this, pandemonium seems to be democratic, every devil kind of getting a vote, but in all reality, Satan controls the opinions of the devils. Beelzebub's idea for corrupting creation was first stated to him by Satan when they first left the lake of fire. Then, Satan spun the story to make him seem like he was sacrificing everything for all of the other demons. With this, the rhetoric of hell cannot be trusted, and is manipulated by Satan.
Very well said.
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