The lines you’ve quoted seem to express a speaker’s struggle with religious faith, contemplation of God and heaven, and the temptation to turn away from those beliefs.

Get the full solved assignment PDF of MEG-02 of 2023-24 session now.

The mention of despair, the suggestion of trusting in Beelzebub (a name associated with the devil), and the call to abjure magic and turn back to God all indicate a conflicted state of mind. Here’s an analysis:

Struggle with Faith:

The opening phrase, “What boots it then to think of God or heaven?” suggests a sense of questioning the value or usefulness of contemplating God and heaven. The speaker may be grappling with doubts or a crisis of faith, wondering if such thoughts have any meaningful impact.

Despair and Temptation:

The word “despair” signals a deep sense of hopelessness or loss of faith. The speaker, in this state of despair, entertains the idea of turning to Beelzebub, a symbolic figure associated with evil or the devil. This reflects a temptation to abandon faith in God and embrace a darker alternative.

Abjuring Magic:

The mention of abjuring magic suggests a renunciation or rejection of mystical or supernatural practices. This could be a call to break away from anything perceived as occult or contrary to religious teachings.

Turning to God Again:

The concluding phrase, “Turn to God again,” represents a plea or advice to return to a belief in God. Despite the speaker’s earlier contemplation of despair and temptation, there is a recognition of the need to rekindle faith in a higher power.

Overall, these lines convey a complex emotional and spiritual struggle. The speaker experiences doubt, despair, and temptation but ultimately acknowledges the importance of turning back to God. The internal conflict depicted in these lines reflects a common theme in literature where characters grapple with faith, moral choices, and the forces of good and evil.