Him fast sleeping soon he found In labyrinth of many a round self rolled Gustave Dore (1832-1883)

The image depicts a desolate landscape under a somber sky. In the foreground, a coiled serpent lies on barren ground, its scales intricately detailed. To its right, a winged, nude male figure is seated on a rock. He is muscular and appears to be in a pensive or weary state, hunched over with his hands clasped. His large, bat-like wings are partially folded behind him, and he has a somber expression. The background features a sparse and dry terrain with some scraggly bushes and a distant body of water or mist, hinting at a vast, empty expanse. The overall mood is one of isolation, despair, and perhaps contemplation of a past event or future predicament.

The subtexts of this image are rich and multifaceted, primarily referencing Miltons Paradise Lost and the biblical narrative of the Fall of Man. The winged figure is clearly Satan, and the serpent is the tempter in the Garden of Eden. The title, Him fast sleeping soon he found In labyrinth of many a round self rolled, directly quotes Miltons description of Satan, specifically his state after his fall from heaven and his subsequent disorientation in Hell.

Key subtexts include:

• The Fall and its Aftermath: The image captures the post-fall state of Satan, a being of immense pride and power now humbled and seemingly lost. The desolate landscape can be interpreted as a representation of Hell or the chaotic state of the world after humanitys sin.
• Temptation and Sin: The presence of the serpent and Satan together alludes to the origin of sin and the enduring nature of temptation. The coiled snake can symbolize danger, deception, and the primal forces of evil.
• Isolation and Despair: Satans posture and expression convey profound loneliness and regret. His isolation from God and his heavenly abode is palpable in the vast emptiness of the depicted environment.
• Pride and Hubris: The fallen angels once glorious form is now a symbol of divine retribution for his prideful rebellion against God. The image prompts reflection on the consequences of overweening pride.
• The Labyrinth of the Self: The quote from Miltons work, labyrinth of many a round self rolled, suggests an internal struggle. Satan is not only physically lost but also mentally trapped in his own thoughts, regrets, and pride, unable to find a way out of his self-inflicted torment.

The engraving style by Gustave Doré emphasizes the dramatic contrasts and the somber mood, further enhancing the thematic weight of the illustration as a commentary on sin, exile, and the human condition (represented through the angels fall).