John Milton, Paradise Lost
Beelzebub in Paradise Lost
Beelzebub stands nearest Satan in the infernal hierarchy and appears as a grave figure of public deliberation. His bearing lends the ruined company the appearance of a state in council. His proposal directs the rebels’ hostility towards mankind, though the narrator attributes the design to Satan. The assembly’s assent makes indirect harm the chosen continuation of the rebellion.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryBeelzebub stands nearest Satan in the infernal hierarchy and appears as a grave figure of public deliberation. His bearing lends the ruined company the appearance of a state in council.
Further detail
LiteraryHis proposal directs the rebels’ hostility towards mankind, though the narrator attributes the design to Satan. The assembly’s assent makes indirect harm the chosen continuation of the rebellion.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows Beelzebub’s council role in Milton’s poem. The narrator’s account and the character’s political performance are literary evidence, rather than a universal demonological ranking.
Original passages
Source 1
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré
Satan except, none higher satOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Milton, Paradise Lost, active reader leaf 51
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0115-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0115-E001-P0051
- Original scan leaf
- 52
- Recorded leaf number
- 52
- Current Reader position
- 47
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré
first devised By SatanOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Milton, Paradise Lost, active reader leaf 53
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0115-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0115-E001-P0053
- Original scan leaf
- 54
- Recorded leaf number
- 54
- Current Reader position
- 49
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Belial in Paradise Lost
The persuasive speaker whose graceful counsel disguises indolence.
Same subject and traditionMammon in Paradise Lost
The fallen spirit who values heavenly gold and proposes building an empire below.
Same subject and traditionMoloch in Paradise Lost
The fierce counsellor who argues for immediate open war.
Same subject and traditionMulciber in Paradise Lost
The skilled builder whose art cannot prevent his fall but constructs the infernal capital.