A Comparison of God and Satan in Paradise Lost
analytical Essay
1575 words
Comparison of God and Satan in Paradise Lost
In this essay I shall be focusing on the characters of G-d and Satan from 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton. Within the essay I shall be attempting to elucidate on the themes of ambiguity of the two characters as well as the uncertainty of moral integrity of each, characterized by John's Milton's use of sentence structure, private thoughts and symbolism.
Foremost I would like to look at the way the way in which Milton characterizes the characters of Satan in particular. Milton specifically presents different elements of Satan's character by his interaction with those around him. For example it may seem ultimately that Satan (even by his very name) is a creature of great evil. However, Milton shows elements of self doubt and an almost pitiful nature, forming a contradiction of the stereotypical image of what Satan represents.:
'Which way I fly is hell: My self am hell'
The repetition of the word 'hell' exaggerates a sense of futility now that he has come to Earth for the first time. The questioning tone implied by the use of the word 'which' further empathises this. The reader no longer needs to label the morality of such a character; Satan defines himself with the use of the pronoun 'my' and the preceding definition and assessment that 'My self am hell'. Furthermore through Satan's own assessment the distancing technique by the word 'my' appears to exaggerate the notion of the definition of himself, the natural pause due to the unusual syntax further accentuates this. The use of Milton's alliteration in 'Racked with deep despair' when describing Satan's countenance only empathises this pitiful nature.
However this sense of self dou...
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...ng that G-d deliberately leads Satan into greater evil.
From the outset it appears that G-d and Satan remain in opposition together, an important characterisation of Milton. 'Paradise Lost' states that Satan was acting;
'Against the throne and monarchy of G-d.'
Weston continues this theme by saying that:
'In a fundamental sense, then, the 'hell' of human struggle can be said to have produced the 'heaven' of peace and harmony.'
In other words without the intensity of one character, in 'Paradise Lost' we would be without the other.
Works Cited and Consulted:
Bush, D. 'John Milton' Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1964.
Empson, W. 'Milton's G-d' Penguin, London, 1973.
Milton, J. 'Paradise Lost' Penguin, London, 1955.
Weston, P. 'Paradise Lost- A Critical Study, Penguin Middlesex, 1984.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how satan questions and demands answers from the tautology of 'whence' and ’what’, and exaggerates the horrific quality of death. satan takes this insistence even further.
- Analyzes how milton teaches that the punishment for denying g-d has devastating repercussions. satan shows his obvious aversion to defiance.
- Analyzes how milton's omniscient voice describes g-d as being 'almighty' and "omnipotent" and argues that each is powerful in their own right.
- Analyzes how caliban's use of speech in much of 'the tempest' is rather eloquent, but there is a sense of power and greed that needs to be discussed.
- Analyzes how the use of the word'satisfaction' seems at odds with the sense of something retributive as in biblical terms, but more akin to personal appeasement for the crimes committed by humankind.
- Analyzes how milton characterizes satan and g-d through language and symbolism. the serpent is strongly representative of genesis within the bible, and moreover is heavily associated with satan.
- Analyzes how milton characterizes the characters of g-d and satan from 'paradise lost' by focusing on the themes of ambiguity and uncertainty of moral integrity.
- Analyzes how the repetition of the word 'hell' exaggerates a sense of futility now that he has come to earth for the first time.
- Argues that in 'paradise lost' we question g-d's reasoning for elements like whether or not he allowed satan to escape from the burning lake.
- Analyzes how weston in 'a critical study' discusses the disparity between satan's private self and the public persona that is displayed with the poem.
- Analyzes how g-d procrastinates and insists that the blame does not lie with him in 'paradise lost'. the sense of ambiguity is persistent when detailing his character.
- Analyzes how milton uses 'epic similes' to describe satan, but simultaneously uses none when describing g-d. his use of biblical references elevates the mystical element to what he is both personality and physical.
- Analyzes how the ambiguity of g-d and satan is an important element that must be discussed when trying to ascertain the characters.
- Analyzes how empson picks up the argument with theorising that g-d deliberately leads satan into greater evil.
- Opines that without the intensity of one character, in 'paradise lost' we would be without one.
Related
- analytical
- John Miltonanalytical essaySatan, as a character, has been satirized, mocked and made foolish in our modern world. John Milton, however, presents quite a different Satan from the devil-on-your-shoulder image people are used to seeing. In Paradise Lost, Milton draws on the Bible for his source of Satan’s character, thereby creating a horrifyingly corrupt Satan. Despite this portrayal, readers often find themselves sympathizing with Satan’s cause, and his determination, viewing him as a hero for his cause, as evidenced by his long, brave speeches. Later, however Satan’s speeches begin to show signs of regret, making the reader question their initial reaction to him. In the end the image of Satan is further skewed by his own incriminating speech. Thus, the speeches of Satan, which initially draw readers to be supportive of his plight, later reveal his truly destructive character, resulting in the reader disliking Satan more than if he initially presented himself as a coward.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's portrayal of satan is different from the devil-on-your-shoulder image people are used to seeing.
- Analyzes how satan, in paradise lost, establishes himself as a defender of freedom, which is attractive to readers.
- Opines that th’ almighty hath not built here for his envy, will not drive us hence: here we may reign secure, and in my choice to reign is worth ambition though in hell.
- Analyzes how satan's independent attitude elevates him to hero status, willing to defend what he believes in, even if it means suffering. milton uses this perception to highlight satan’s destructive attitude.
- Analyzes how as the character of satan progresses, the reader becomes less willing to accept satan’s goal of freedom of choice. in book iv satan is found reflecting on his actions and wonders if he made the right decision in rebelling against god.
- Opines that heav'n's matchless king deserved no return from him, who created what he was. pride and worse ambition threw him down.
- Analyzes how satan sees that his actions against god were not fully justified, recalling how glorious things were, and owing service to god for creating him.
- Analyzes how satan's inner battle leads the reader to become suspicious about his description of himself in earlier books, and their own interpretation of his earlier words.
- Analyzes how satan's destructive side is revealed in book ix, which corrects any leaning to the view that satan is a hero. he describes the hatred behind his plan, stealing any credibility he may have built up in readers.
- Opines that the more they see pleasures bout them, so much more i feel torment within them; all good to them becomes bane, and in heav'n much worse would be my state.
- Analyzes how satan's words, which may have allowed readers to view him as a hero, disappear in this speech. his goal of freedom of choice is lost in his hate.
- Analyzes how milton's desire to create a strong hatred of satan is achieved best by highlighting satan’s good points first. the reader is appalled at the actions of their “hero”.
1139 wordsRead More - Satan, the Core of Milton´s Paradise Lostanalytical essayThe great debate whether Satan is the hero of Milton’s Epic Poem, Paradise Lost, has been speculated for hundreds of years. Milton, a writer devoted to theology and the appraisal of God, may not have intended for his portrayal of Satan to be marked as heroic. Yet, this argument is valid and shares just how remarkable the study of literature can be. Milton wrote his tale of the fall of man in the 1674. His masterpiece is an example of how ideas of a society change with time. This is because it wasn’t until the 1800’s during the Romantic era, that people no longer saw the hero of literary works as perfect in every way. It started to become more popular to develop the flawed character similar to the ones written in the classics. A literary criterion that is based on a protagonist, who undergoes conflict on the outside and from within and is prevented by a specific flaw to accomplish their main goal, creates an epic Hero. In Paradise Lost, God does not face conflict because he is perfect and all-knowing, and Adam’s conflict is not presented from the very start, Satan’s is. Because Satan is the main character of the work and possesses qualities that would deem him heroic, such as his determination against tough odds, his ability to lead, and his human-like nature to error, he can be seen has the Hero of the famous poem.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's tale of the fall of man is an example of how ideas of a society change with time.
- Analyzes how satan's unwavering passion to defeat his all-mighty creator makes him the underdog that an audience cannot help but root for.
- Opines that satan's role in paradise lost makes the reader fear him rather than see him in the traditional religious way we are expected to see. god is the distant and powerful force that will reward those who follow his command.
- Analyzes how satan's heroic character provokes readers to think of a hero. he is benevolent and asks for volunteers to help implement the strategy.
- Analyzes how satan's self pride led to his jealousy of the son of god and his deceptive plots.
- Analyzes how satan's human-like struggles keep him a hero through the eyes of readers because they can relate.
- Analyzes how milton's readers see how highly satan sees himself and his army. he thinks of them as almost untouchable.
- Concludes that satan does fit the description of an epic hero. his actions do not have to be moral, in order to see him as a character that shows immense strife, great power and apparent flaws.
1302 wordsRead More - Satan In Paradise Lostanalytical essayAll About That Grace, Bout’ That Grace, No Satan Hero can be distinct as an individual who is accepted or idealized for bravery, exceptional accomplishment, or dignified traits. On the other hand, Satan is known as the leader of all wickedness. With these descriptions in mind, one can determine that John Milton’s character, Satan, in Paradise Lost, is in fact the epic’s hero. Although non-traditional, one can determine that Satan is the epic hero because of textual evidence found in all twelve books of Paradise Lost. The implications implied throughout the twelve books of Paradise Lost entail Satan as the hero because of the information Milton provides to the reader about Satan’s actions and results thereof.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that john milton's character, satan, in paradise lost, is the epic hero because of textual evidence found in all twelve books of the novel.
- Concludes that milton provides his main character as a relative, relatable man as opposed to all other characters in paradise lost. satan's disposition and behaviorism are all very human.
- Analyzes how milton's first book, paradise lost, portrays satan as a confused, resentful man who feels the need to rebel against god.
- Analyzes the second act of rebellion committed by satan in the form of a serpent as he lures eve into digesting the fruit from the forbidden tree.
- Analyzes how the reader recognizes the account of satan through a lens that is rarely used. satan was the first and one of the only men to ever be bold enough to question the most almighty figure in our world.
858 wordsRead More - A paradise from hellanalytical essaySatan’s spiteful actions, attitude, and appearance are exposed in John Milton’s Paradise Lost and other texts. Satan is a mesmerizing but revengeful figure who utilizes doubt to break the relationship established between man and God.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how satan is a mesmerizing but revengeful figure who utilizes doubt to break the relationship established between man and god.
- Analyzes how satan aims to rule without the intrusion of god and humans. when neglected from praise, he is consumed in envy and ambition for supremacy.
- Narrates how earth felt the wound, and nature from her seat gave sign of woe,/ that all was lost.
- Analyzes how the serpent tempted eve to sin by convincing her that disobeying god would favor her, although it is otherwise.
- Analyzes how satan is deceitful. he knows that defiance will be the ultimate betrayal for god because the path established by the lord has been abandoned through sin.
- Analyzes how satan attempts to break the spiritual relationship between man and god by implanting the seed of doubt in the human mind. the serpent reverses the motives of god and uses them in his favor.
- Explains why it was forbidding to awe, keep ye low and ignorant, his worshipers; he knows that in the day, they will be as gods, knowing both good and evil as they know.
- Analyzes how satan sways eve into thinking that god objects to her knowledge of good and bad. satan sends his demons, screwtape and wormwood, to taint the concept of religion.
- Analyzes how satan accomplishes his purpose through his appearance. in paradise lost he is said to be a mesmerizing snake that will tempt and seduce eve.
- Analyzes how satan disguises himself as an innocent and beautiful angel that is harmless. his beauty is like a spell that will carry out the act of sin.
- Analyzes how satan is tormented by spite and revenge, driven by the destruction of humankind and faith. his character in scripture is manipulative and disguising while his actions in the screwtape letters are organized and shrewd
837 wordsRead More - Satan: The Adversaryanalytical essayIn Paradise Lost by John Milton, Satan is depicted as a malicious and deceiving character who is fueled by his own ambitions to overthrow God. His role and appearance in Paradise Lost is conveyed through his envious behavior, his foolish attempts to battle God, and his cunning deceptions. Satan’s manipulative and malignant personality is also demonstrated in various verses of Scripture and CS Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters by demonstrating his spiteful behavior and self-deluded lies.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how satan's role and appearance in paradise lost is conveyed through his envious behavior, his foolish attempts to battle god, and his cunning deceptions.
- Analyzes how satan, once the bearer of light, fell from heaven due to his disdainful envious behavior. his ambitions and desire to gain the highest of authority and power reveals he is motivated by his narcissistic ego.
- Analyzes how satan's deceiving personality enables him to strategically attack god and the heavens through deception and lies.
- Analyzes how satan's aspired manner of conduct, his absurd attempts to battle god, and his misleading craftiness construct his intriguing and vital character in john milton’s paradise lost.
- Analyzes how satan's overly prideful ego led him to believe he had the ability to battle and defeat god. his rebellion against the almighty was ludicrous and absurd, but his free will created the motivation to oppose god and defiance.
831 wordsRead More - John Milton Paradise Lost Analysisanalytical essayThroughout time, John Milton's Paradise Lost has been studied by many people and comprehended in many different fashions, developing all kinds of new interpretations of the great epic. There have been many different interpretations of this great epic. Milton's purpose in writing the epic was to explain the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Although the epic is similar to the Bible story in many ways, Milton's character structure differs from that of the Bible's version. All through out the epic Milton describes the characters in the way he believes they are. In book II of Paradise Lost, Milton portrays Satan as a rebel who exhibits certain heroic qualities, but who turns out not to be a hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's paradise lost has been studied by many people and comprehended in many different fashions.
- Analyzes how milton uses the whole rebellion scene, when put together with the battle in heaven, to show heroic qualities in satan.
- Analyzes how milton shows how skilled satan is in his choice of words and why the others look up to him as their leader.
- Analyzes how milton shows the reader this side of satan to make them think before assuming that satan is the hero of the epic.
- Analyzes how milton's portrayal of satan as a rebellious hero deteriorates as the epic continues.
1587 wordsRead More - Distinguishing Between Bad and Evilanalytical essayJohn Milton’s works Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle all have antagonists that are Milton’s representations of evil. However, when closely examining Satan in Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained it is easily recognizable that Satan’s character has taken a remarkable shift in that he no longer questions his immoral actions just like Comus never questions his actions in A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle. This close examination brings about the question what’s the difference between being an evil being and a person with bad character? This essay will evaluate how Satan in Paradise Lost is just a bad character whereas Satan in Paradise Regained and Comus are evil beings.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's works paradise lost, parade regained and a masque presented at ludlow castle all have antagonists that are milton’s representations of evil.
- Analyzes how milton creates satan's character with intricate conflicting dualities, ultimately creating him as both good and bad.
- Analyzes how milton has reconstructed satan in such a malicious manner that there leaves no room for question whether satan is bad or evil. his speeches are no longer alluring and infectious instead they reek with toxic flow.
- Analyzes how the speaker's speeches are so convincing that even the reader is tempted to fall into the notion that he only wishes to help the young girl even though they know his true intentions.
- Analyzes how milton constructs satan to teach the reader that they should be disgusted with the envy and familiarity they had for satan in paradise lost.
- Analyzes how milton uses the power of speech to teach his readers that one should not be fooled by charm, wit, and take notice to manipulation.
1000 wordsRead More - Satan And Satan In John Milton's Paradise Lostanalytical essayJohn Milton was a very interesting human being. Milton was a poet who lived during the seventeenth century and he wanted to create something astounding that rivaled Homer and Virgil, authors of the world’s great epic poems. He decided to follow the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible’s, Genesis 3. To explain the acts of God to men was his chief goal and he achieved it by telling of the first disobediences towards God and what he did as a consequence. What’s even more interesting, is that Milton wrote the whole poem, Paradise Lost, completely blind. He didn’t exactly write it, but rather recited it to his daughters who wrote it down. Another very interesting thing Milton did, was he decided to portray Satan as not only a villain, but also as a hero in Paradise Lost.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that john milton was an interesting human being who wanted to create something astounding that rivaled homer and virgil, authors of the world's great epic poems.
- Analyzes how milton portrays satan as a hero in paradise lost. the poem begins with satan and his other fallen angels in hell.
- Analyzes how satan's struggle in paradise lost is ironic because god allows satan to corrupt and cause the fall of man because he believes that people should have the ability of free will.
- Analyzes how milton portrays satan as the hero in paradise lost, but it is clear that he is a villain. satan is made up of pride, ambition, jealousy, temptation, manipulation, fraud, and sin.
- Analyzes how milton depicts satan as a villain and the hero in paradise lost, but he's also the embodiment of hell itself. milton knew how to portray satan to conflict the reader.
732 wordsRead More - Paradise Lost Analysisanalytical essayThe character of Satan "deteriorates" greatly through the epic (Ruma 81). Satan is viewed as a great warrior and then as time passes, his own followers begin to doubt him. "Milton has his brilliant hero advance to be met and repulsed, first verbally, and then in arms" (Revard 225). This explains how the two most heroic qualities, that Milton uses to describe Satan as a rebellious hero, were diminished and Milton's Satan is not a hero after all.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's epic, paradise lost, portrays satan as a rebel who exhibits heroic qualities and corrupts to show the thin line between good and evil.
- Analyzes how milton shows how skilled satan is in his choice of words, and why the others look up to him as their leader.
- Analyzes how milton shows the reader this side of satan to make them think before assuming that satan is the hero of the epic.
- Analyzes how milton's portrayal of satan as a rebellious hero deteriorates as the epic continues.
1240 wordsRead More - John Milton's Paradise Lostanalytical essayFirstly, a few words about Satan would seem prudent, as he is the first of the fallen angels, the leader in the revolt, and the first to venture to earth to corrupt mankind. He is Milton’s main character, and the only one to extend outside of strict biblical interpretations of his character. He appears first in the Bible (if you discount the snake in the Garden of Eden) in the Book of Job, in which he convinces God to test Job by taking away all his worldly possessions and bringing harm to himself and his family. He is addressed with the angels and named as Satan, so his status as an angel who helps bring pain and suffering is no stretch from the ‘biblical truth’. Old Testament Books such as Isaiah and Ezekiel refer to what appears to be Satan, but are in the midst of passages that reflect upon wicked, fallen kings. In Isaiah 14:12 it is written, “how you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” Most speculation is that this directly refers to Satan, although in no other passage is he referred to as Lucifer. The passage is actually concerning a Babylonian king, as is Ezekiel 28:14-15, which laments (for the King of Tyre), “you were the anointed cherub… till iniquity was found in you.” These passages are about wick...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how milton's paradise lost is filled with fantastical tales from the depths of hell, extravagant descriptions of the fallen angels, and a curious recitation
- Explains that satan is milton's main character, and the only one to extend outside of strict biblical interpretations of his character.
- Explains that moloch was the first to ascend from the lake after beelzebub and satan.
- Analyzes how solomon's "wisest heart" refers to his son by an ammonite wife, rehoboam, under which israel was split into a northern and southern kingdom.
- Explains that chemos was involved in the straying of the israelites on their exodus from egypt and their worship of false gods, which enraged god.
- Analyzes how osiris, the god of the underworld, and isis, his wife, brought him back from the dead twice to make a child and seek revenge on his brother, set.
- Analyzes how mammon epitomizes greed at its finest. he taught man and demon alike to mine for riches and rifl'd the bowels of thir mother earth for treasures better hid.
- Analyzes milton's epic of light and darkness, good and evil, heave, hell, and everything in between. expounding upon popular beliefs of satan and his rogue angels, the poem preaches that you strictly obey god.
- Analyzes how milton's knowledge of the bible is proved beyond the context of a battle in heaven with the creation of other angels, all of whom have origins adorned with gay religions full of pomp and gold.
- Analyzes how chemos and the syrian gods baalim and ashtaroth exercise their angelic right to change their shape, even into bestial forms.
- Explains that belial was the last of the chief demons to emerge, unworshipped except in actions across the lands. biblical influence includes "the streets of sodom, and that night in gibeah."
3096 wordsRead More