The Unholy Trinity as a Reverse Allegory

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Edward Spencer celebrated allegorical writing with his classic romantic epic "The Faerie Queen." Even as Milton criticized the use of allegory, he indubitably implemented the use of it in "Paradise Lost." Although Milton does use allegory, his use of the form tremendously differs from that of Spencer. His application of allegory is a reversal of the typical Spenserian allegory.

Milton uses a reverse allegory as an abstract representation of the Holy Trinity of God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by an Unholy Trinity of Satan, Sin and Death. As indicated by Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, an allegory is: "a figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principle subject is described by another subject resembling in its properties and characteristics. The real subject is kept out of view and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject." In accordance with Webster's definition, Milton clearly executes the exact opposite of what a true allegory entails. The Unholy Trinity does not embody the characteristics of the Heavenly Trinity, but in actuality it embodies the exact opposite of everything that the Heavenly Trinity stands for.

Satan is an allegorical representation of God the Father. Both Satan and God are seen as Father figures; God as the Father of all that is virtuous, and Satan as the Father of all that is wicked. Just as God is the King of heaven, Satan claims himself King of Hell. God is the originator of Goodness, as Satan is the originator of Evilness. All in all, Satan is a perverse representation of God.

Satan's three main characteristics; envy, deceit, and pride; are also a contributing factor in the relevance of...

... middle of paper ...

...ty works together for a common goal, all are wicked and deceitful, and would undoubtedly turn on one another. Death would kill Sin, just as Satan would have killed Death, if it meant that he would have remained unharmed. Satan is the father and creator of the family; therefore nothing good can become of the relationship.

The idea that the Holy Trinity can be directly allegorized by a dysfunctional, Unholy Trinity is not applicable. The two may be structured in the same general manner; however, according to Webster's definition of "allegory" the two are not a true form because the "secondary subject" does not express to the reader the "primary subject's...properties and characteristics.

"Works Cited

"Allegory." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. 1198.

The Holy Bible. King James Version. New York: American Bible Society. 1885

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