A detail of one engraving by Gustav Doré for John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” showing two angels discussing an evil spirit that may have come to earth. (Public Domain)
Sometimes, we are bombarded with evil: Dark imagery, music, words, and so on, can find their way into our lives. The age-old adage “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” does not carry the weight it once did, and we may even find ourselves enjoying the dark things as entertainment. But should we instead identify these things as evil and change our approach to them?
To consider this question, we continue to follow Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and Gustav Doré’s accompanying illustrations. In the previous installment in this series, Milton’s Satan came upon God’s creation: two human beings, Adam and Eve, enjoying the fruits of paradise. The archangel Uriel, who unwittingly pointed out Earth to a disguised Satan, hurries to the archangel Gabriel to warn him of the suspicious character searching for Earth.
So promised he; and Uriel to his charge/Returned (IV. 589, 590), 1866, by Gustav Doré for John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Engraving. (Public Domain).
Uriel Warns Gabriel
It is Gabriel’s responsibility to make sure that nothing evil enters the Garden of Eden. Uriel approaches Gabriel and tells him that a spirit came and began to ask questions about God’s new creation. Uriel showed this spirit where Earth was located, and the spirit immediately headed there. Unknown to this spirit, Uriel continued to watch, and Uriel noticed that the spirit’s heavenly appearance changed when it arrived on Earth: It no longer looked as if it came from heaven.
Uriel believes this spirit may possess foul passions and is one of the banished crew—that is, one of the rebel angels. Worried, he urges Gabriel to find this potentially unwelcome spirit. Gabriel acknowledges that no earthly creature would be able to enter or leave, but it’s possible a spirit could have entered, since spirits operate according to different standards. Gabriel assures Uriel that he will search God’s garden to make sure nothing has found its way in without permission.
... in at this gate none pass
The vigilance here placed, but such as come
Well known from Heav’n; and since meridian hour
No creature thence: if Spirit of other sort,
So minded, have o’erleaped these earthly bounds
On purpose, hard thou know’st it to exclude
Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.
But if within the circuit of these walks,
In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom
Thou tell’st, by morrow dawning I shall know. (Book IV, Lines 579–588)
The Search for Evil
“These to the bower direct/In search of whom they sought” (IV. 798, 799), 1866, by Gustav Doré for John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Engraving. (Public Domain)
Doré’s illustration “So promised he; and Uriel to his charge/Returned” depicts the moment Uriel informs Gabriel of the suspicious spirit who asked about Earth. God has positioned Gabriel in an area of craggy rocks where heaven and earth meet, and it is here that Uriel finds him. Uriel and Gabriel are the two figures positioned toward the upper left of the composition. Uriel points out into the distance and looks at Gabriel who leans on his sword.
Below Uriel and Gabriel, angels sit and face each other in comfortable positions. Though they possess weapons of war, these are not ready for use. In fact, one is even set aside at the moment, for the angels are still unaware of the news Uriel brings.
Meanwhile, in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve rest under a canopy of trees that was chosen for them by God. After speaking with Uriel, Gabriel instructs two angels to search the garden:
Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed
Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook,
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,
Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harm.
This ev’ning from the sun’s decline arrived
Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring. (Book IV, Lines 788–796)
In Doré’s illustration “These to the bower direct/In search of whom they sought,” the two angels, Ithuriel and Zephon, are shown flying through the sky over the tall wall of greenery into the garden where Adam and Eve rest. One of the angels carries a spear and the other carries a sword, which suggests that they are ready to defend themselves and destroy the spirit they’re looking for, if need be. The two angels look at each other and point to where they think the evil spirit might be.
What We Can Learn
Let’s use this part of Milton’s story and Doré’s illustration to examine the inner workings of our souls: How might we confront the evil within ourselves? The garden of Eden is God’s garden, and it was created to house God’s creation, which includes both the divine image and spirit of human beings. God also placed angelic beings around the garden to protect it from evil.
When there’s suspicion that something evil has found a way to where it does not belong, the guardian angels, who carry out God’s intent, search for the evil to eradicate it. They don’t run and hide from evil, and they don’t ignore it. Instead, they turn toward it and investigate it and its whereabouts.
If our souls are fashioned after the divine, then shouldn’t we too search out and rid ourselves of the evil within? When evil content finds its way into the garden of our souls, shall we—like the angels who serve God—willingly turn toward it, find it, and question it?
Gustav Doré was a prolific illustrator of the 19th century. He created images for some of the greatest classical literature of the Western world, including “The Bible,” “Paradise Lost,” and “The Divine Comedy.” In this series, we will take a deep dive into the thoughts that inspired Doré and the imagery those thoughts provoked. For the first article in the series, visit “Illustrious Ideas and Illustrations: The Imagery of Gustav Doré.”
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