John Milton, 'Paradise Lost Books One and Two', title - 'Milton's is a highly visual representation of hell. What does he describe? How does he describe it? What purposes do his descriptions serve?'

Although it has been suggested that Milton's depiction of Satan is unconventional in that it is sympathetic towards him, the same cannot be said for his portrayal of hell. His descriptions, made up of incomparable metaphors, are striking and forceful, yet the interruptions of Satan's speeches of determination allow the readers to explore how it might feel to actually be in hell. Milton puts emphasis on the negative aspects of change through descriptions of characters, …

…the contrast between heaven and hell, and therefore what is lost/gained, provides a powerful and striking image because the contrast is so vast. Then lastly, the link between falling both literally and metaphorically is frequently used as a method to further the distinction between the place of good and the place of evil. In my opinion, Milton's Paradise Lost is fascinating and extremely successful in creating a highly believable and visual image of hell.