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Character of Satan in the paradise lost
Analysis of the satan in paradise lost
Analysis of the satan in paradise lost
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Satan states, “So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, / Farewell remorse: all Good to me is lost; / Evil be thou my good…” (Paradise Lost 4: 108-110). This shows Satan’s understanding of being the criminal; he becomes self-aware of his action being corrupt. Even though he wants to continue his rebellion, he understands that his actions were not justified. So, Satan has a brief moment of relapse, where he feels that maybe God could forgive him. This also points to, the fact that Satan does have free choice. When arguing that Satan acts on his own free will, it is necessary to see what God says about his creations. In Book 3, God says, “…I made him just and right; / Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.” (Paradise Lost …show more content…
It is important to notice that Satan is punished twice in this story for his actions regarding his rebellion and his part in the fall of mankind. Satan’s first punishment is being banished to Hell, which is described as, “…A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, / As one great furnace flam’d: yet from those flames / No light, but rather darkness visible…” (Paradise Lost 1: 61-63). God, then punishes Satan a second time by turning him into a “…Huge Python…” (Paradise Lost 10: 531). The second punishment is given to Satan because of his tempting of Eve. Although, it’s something that God allows to happen, shown where it reads: “…for what can scape the eye / Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart / Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, / Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind / Of man…” (Paradise Lost 10: …show more content…
Compared to the other characters, Satan is the most sympathetic to me because I can relate with his emotions. I pity and fear for Satan because I can connect with the character as the tragedy goes on. So, when Satan pities himself, like in the last lines of the quote previously used: “…Though in mid heaven, soon ended his delight, / And tortures him now more, the more he sees / Of pleasure not for him ordain’d; then soon / Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts / Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites.” (Paradise Lost 9: 468-472). Most readers feel pity for him because of the human connection that they have. This is the trait that allows Satan to be a tragic hero for most people that read Paradise Lost. It is the hints to Satan’s inner feelings that allow catharsis to be produced in all
From the very moment that Satan is introduced he presents this unwavering passion to defeat his all-mighty creator. Satan says in book one, “By force, hath overcome but half his foe. (1:648-649). Here, Satan states in his second speech that they have not lost the battle of Heaven vs. Hell completely. God was stronger than they expected but they were going to overcome their first loss and win the next one. Not...
..., this self-justification and rationalization is a way of him saying, I am justified, which is an innate human quality. This representation is very different from what most people are used to seeing, which results in the reader relating to him and viewing him as victim because we identify with him. The humanizing aspect of Satan in the poem to have an initial reaction and say I am wronged in this situation is identical with our innate reaction to similar incidents. Even though we are different than Satan in many ways, we usually do not take accountability when we are expected to. Thus, we sympathize with Satan in this poem because we also rely on self-justification to avoid taking blame for our wrong doings and accept that we are sometimes wrong. Hence, since we understand his situation due to the way it mirrors our human nature, we consider Satan to be a victim.
...see from his statement, “Can else inflict, do I repent or change”. Rather than repenting, Satan continues to propose another plan for attack. Satan refuses to be the lower person, giving up his battle with God, and thus the thought of repenting does not even enter his mind. As Satan does not consider repentance to be an option, we also gain a sense of his stubborn nature. Satan’s refusal to repent also highlights his prideful nature, since it is his inner pride which does not allow him to consider repenting to be an option. Through Satan’s refusal to repent, we become reminded of ourselves and the times we have refused to submit ourselves to being guilty. Our human nature immediately discourages us from repenting and surrendering to the situation; Instead, we strive to attain the status of being the defeater and not the defeated, which is exactly what Satan is doing.
His determination is shown by the quote ‘He circled, four times crossed the car of night’. This makes it obvious to the reader that Satan’s desire for revenge is much more than a simple whim it is lust. In Book 2 of Paradise Lost, Satan’s determination is introduced as he leaves the other fallen angels in Pandemonium to wreak havoc on Earth and orchestrate their revenge. It is now, in book 9, that his efforts come to fruition, as Eve eats from the Tree of Knowledge and convinces Adam to do the same, consequently, man falls. Despite this, Satan does not receive his full punishment until Book 10
In the beginning of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”, Satan was banished from heaven for rebelling against god himself because of his beliefs that he would be a better ruler of Heaven then god. He refused to accept God’s son as ruler because he felt like he was bound in chains by tyranny. This is a good argument for anyone to rebel, and any man put under the rule of a tyrant, feels that it is his job to make a change. Throughout the story while Satan is in hell you can feel his pain, suffering, and hopelessness from being kicked out of paradise. Satan feels like god shouldn’t be able to control the people because they’re not the same, and the people cannot relate to God. So from this point of view taking over heaven seems like the best idea and in this way the reader can sympathize with Satan.
middle of paper ... ... Not only is he a heroic figure, but he also possesses characteristics of which mankind can identify with. Satan also doubts himself, has jealousy, confidence and does not know he is wrong when he is; all of which a reader can identify with. Satan is in the same position as human beings under an omnipotent God who has foreseen their fate and yet argues that they possess free will.
When you read Paradise Lost, it’s like reading the other side of the book of Genesis. You begin to have a new understanding of the both books. You see the relationship between God and Satan. You begin to understand Satan in a way that you never have before. You begin to see Satan as a character who has been through a lot. Then you begin to sympathize with him. After all, he did get kicked out of heaven.
Satan frequently characterizes “the tyranny of heaven” and employs negative diction in his depictions of both heaven and God (I.124). His negative portrayals of God and his kingdom highlight his utter dissatisfaction with being subservient to God and, from that, his desire for autonomy. In the exposition of the text, Satan’s emotions toward God make themselves apparent when Satan “throws his baleful eyes / That witnessed huge affliction and dismay / Mixed with obdúrate pride and steadfast hate” (I.56-58). Satan reveals himself to be furious with his continued subjugation to God as well as his inability to truly revenge himself against his subsequent punishment. According to Satan, God’s dissimulation of his power tempted Satan and others to rise
In order to attempt to discern if Satan is a tragic hero, his character must fit a certain profile. According to Aristotle's theory, the tragic hero has the potential to be great, but is doomed to fail. The tragic hero, although fallen, still wins a moral victory. The general characteristics follow that the tragic hero is a noble, is responsible for their fate, contains a tragic flaw, and is doomed to make a severe error in judgment. Eventually, the tragic hero falls from a high status, realizes the mistake that was made, faces and accepts their death, and finally ends in a tragic death. It is important to state that, in all tragic heroes, the audience is affected by fear and/or pity. In Paradise Lost, the reader is easily able to relate to Satan, even pity him at some points...
Milton, John. Paradise Lost. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. Vol. A. gen
middle of paper ... ... Answerable Style Essays on Paradise Lost. Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota Press, 1953. Print.
Satan demonstrates his leadership, intelligence, and traits valued by his fellow fallen angels within the first several books of Paradise Lost. Satan speaks eloquently throughout the entire work, which demonstrates both his intelligence and ability to manipulate others, “Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!/For, since no deep within her gulf can hold/Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen,/I give not Heaven for lost...claim our just inheritance of old,/Surer to prosper than prosperity/Could have assured us, and by what best way, Whether of open war or covert guile,/We now debate; who can advise, may speak” (2.11-42). Satan beautifully addresses his peers and cunningly proposes a democracy, disguising his leadership and intentions of making the decisions himself. However, his companions in Hell blindly
Milton's introduction of Satan shows the reader how significant Satan is to Paradise Lost. He uses Satan's heroic qualities to his followers, and his ability to corrupt to show the thin line between good and evil. Satan was one of the highest angels in Heaven and was know as Lucifer, meaning, light bearer. This shows he was once a good angel. Milton makes the reader see him as a leader and a strong influence to all in his presence. He best describes Satan's ways when stating, "His pride/ had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host. / Of rebel angels, by whose aspiring/ To set himself in glory above his peers" (Milton Book I). Satan's pride was the main reason that God banned him from heaven. Satan always tried to be number one and a leader, instead of following in God's shadow. He would of lived a life in Paradise forever, but he had to follow his feelings as he states, "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" (Milton 31). This shows how strongly he felt about not being above everybody else.
Beelzebub has suggested that they attempt to corrupt God’s new creation, humankind. Satan agrees, and volunteers to go himself. He is met at the gates by his children Sin and Death, who follow him and build a bridge between Earth and Hell. In Heaven. God talks about how he can see what Satan is planning to do. He orders the angels together for a council meeting of their own. He tells them of Satan’s intentions, and the Son volunteers himself to make the sacrifice for humankind. At this time, Satan travels through Night and Chaos and lands on earth. He takes disguises himself as a cherub and sneaks past Archangel Uriel. Satan takes a moment as he reflects on the splendor of Paradise, it brings him pain rather than pleasure. He then reaffirms his decision to make evil his good, committing crimes against God. Satan leaps over Paradise’s wall, takes the form of a cormorant (large bird), perched atop the Tree of Life. When Adam and Eve return to Paradise, Satan takes the form of a toad and whispers into Eve’s ear. Gabriel the angel finds Satan and orders him to leave. Satan wants to battle Gabriel but God shows the golden scales of justice sign in the sky and Satan runs away. God send Raphael down to Earth to teach Adam and Eve of the dangers the face with
Seeing paradise only reminds Satan of what he lost as a result of his fall from Heaven. Satan comes to the conclusion that he is the very embodiment of hell, bringing it everywhere he goes : “The Hell within him, for within him Hell /He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell/One step no more then from himself can fly (20-22).” Compared to the Bible, we actually get to see the torment Satan suffers as he lives his life as God’s adversary. Satan actually takes responsibility for his fall , pointing out the flaws that led to it: “Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down” ( 40 ) . Unlike the Satan in Genesis and Job, Milton’s Satan clearly understands why he has fallen. As Satan continues to ponder his situation , he realizes that even if there was a chance for his redemption, he would never be comfortable being God’s servant. Sooner or later, the same feelings of inferiority and the desire to overthrow God would rise. Satan becomes bitterer as his soliloquy goes on and resolves that his fate is sealed : “So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,/ Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;/Evil be thou my Good;”( 108-110). He then goes on to continue his revenge plot on God. Angry with God for putting him in the position to fall , Satan sees the same potential for failure in Adam and Eve. He then explains that it is in fact God’s fault that he must corrupt them and tells them to “ Thank him