In both Paradise Lost and Good Omens the angels can be witnessed helping out the humans and watching over them. In Paradise Lost, the Angels are given the task of warning and helping the humans. The angels share deep bonds with Adam and hold many deep and meaningful conversations with him. The angels serve as a line of communication with God and also as a means of understand the past and future. The angels become a means of protection to Adam and Eve as they warn them about faults they are making and serve as mentors to help them become closer to God. After the fall they comfort Adam by telling him that the world will be ok and that God will provide a means of absolution.
In Good Omens we are shown the role of an angel through Aziraphale’s actions. Aziraphale has the ability to directly step into the human’s lives through miracles. This is a power that Milton’s angels do not possess. Gaiman and Pratchett’s angels walk amongst humans and have very little direct contact with God. However both types of Angels have a deep nurturing attitude towards the humans and want to protect them and sympathize with them. Aziraphale also possesses a human body while he is immortal the body he possesses is not. This makes him more like a human and thus he can identify with their feeling and needs.
The angels are presented in different ways because Gaiman and Pratchett wish to show how good will always prevail in the world while Milton wishes to justify the actions of God to man. This is why Milton’s angels are viewed more as servants to God while Gaiman and Pratchett’s angels are meant to be a positive influence and equal protector of the humans.
The different angels share common responsibilities and values because they are both working in the effort to protect the souls of the humans however their method in fulfilling this differs between texts because of the limitations and physical representations of the angels. -Megan
No comments:
Post a Comment