Kellie Elhai

Period 2
11/30/2016
The Devils Argument
In the classical epic Paradise Lost, several devils present their arguments for the next
course of action after being granted freedom from the lake of fire. After many thoughts are
presented and turned down, Beelzebub finally suggests a plan that everyone agrees with. This
plan is actually Satans, and he simply uses Beelzebub as his mouthpiece to voice his ideas.
This mechanic is similar to modern-day politics in which the president enumerates the basic
ideas and principles of his or her political party in order to better appeal to the people; our entire
political system makes the devils argument.
Both in the epic and in our current society, two political forces work together behind-thescenes. Satan and Beelzebub had agreed beforehand the sequence of events: Beelzebub
would present his argument, suggest that someone should go and investigate the new creations
called Man, then Satan would heroically, and seemingly spontaneously, volunteer for the task.
This would win over the other devils and strengthen their loyalty to their unofficial leader, as well
as retain Beelzebubs position as Satans right-hand-man. The president undergoes a similar
process with the leaders of their political party. They meet in private and discuss which ideas
and policies the president will advocate for; the president is a separate entity and is able to think
and fight for themselves, but also serves as the megaphone that is able to act upon their partys
ideas. In return, the president is given support, funding, and continued loyalty. Its a system that
feeds into itself, for neither side is able to succeed without the backing of the other. This holds
true for the fallen angels as well, since Satan requires Beelzebubs assistance to win over the
other devils and present himself as the hero.
Although this system mirrors that of the devils, neither is necessarily evil in the traditional
sense. Neither team fights towards chaos and disarray simply to cause misery; both Satan and
Beelzebub and the political party and the president simply promote their desires and goals.

Satan wishes to rise up once again against Heaven after being punished in a lake of fire. He
rallies his forces, similar to how a president must rouse a nation before war is possible, and
presents his strategy through Beelzebub to make it sound more appealing. He has his own
motivations, plans, and hopes for the future. Is it not honorable to bring ones hopes and dreams
into action? Although politics can be just as heated at times as the lake of fire, each side truly
believes they are fighting for the correct cause. Each political party holds their own ideas and
principles, and takes initiative to see them come to life. They need the president to fight for
them, just as Satan needs Beelzebub to win over the other devils. However, neither the political
party nor Satan believes they are making the devils argument; to them, they are simply
making their argument.
In the politics of both todays system and of Hell, the same mechanic occurs and recurs
time and time again. A higher power working together with a lower power to present ideas, win
over others, and bathe the other side in a positive or heroic light is an effective model of politics
that has been taken advantage of by demons and politicians alike. The devils argument is
present in the very fibers that make up our present-day government.