Free Essay: Interpretation of God and Satan in John Milton's Paradise Lost

Importance of Debate in John Milton’s Paradise Lost Paradise Lost Is an epic novel depicting the creation of the world and Man's fall from grace. It also shows the fall of Lucifer and his entrapment in Hell with other arch demons. Though Lucifer was one of the most beautiful angels, he became the most hideous of creatures in hell as Satan, the most powerful demigod-god. Satan resents God for the punishment that he has received and seeks revenge on Him. Satan knows, however, that he and his forces are no match for the might of Heaven, so he calls for a debate among his devilish council to work through their options.

These instances displays Milton's portrayal of Satan’s ineptitude to win against God’s supremacy. Although Satan is a dark figure that everyone wants to escape from, Milton maximizes the devil’s qualities to portray him as the oppressed fighter for freedom. Milton also humanizes Satan’s attributes by displaying his weaknesses and defeats in the face of the all knowing Creator. Then he is the absolute enemy that deceives and enchants man to succumb to their weaknesses. Milton deliberately creates a reason why Satan is necessary to God by examining the Scripture and was further elevated by C.S.

This state of repentance distinguishes man apart from Satan’s ways of only wishing to continue with evil and sinning. Even though Satan and Eve’s falls are derived from similar motives, the aftermaths differ from each other because of each of their distinct characteristics and reactions to their actions. Satan’s immediate reaction to his fall is to continue in the same direction of acting in evil manners for it is the only only thing he has left. He acts upon tempting man into sinning in any form and way he decides fits best to get the results he desires. Satan expects to receive praise when he returns to his kingdom but instead he hears the hissing from all the devils who have assumed the transformation of serpents.

Throughout Paradise Lost, written by Milton, there are many primary motivations that consequently guide Satan in his actions, revenge, power, and lastly, praise of his own followers. First, Satan is guided throughout Paradise Lost by the revenge he wants God to deal with. He decided to go against the lord and live in the dark place where the damned go. Satan must live with the fact that he was one of the highest angels in heaven, but it still was not good enough to become a ruler along with god. He got mad, and lost his spot that he once held.

The suffering in Hell is ultimately unbearable, regardless of the nature of sin. The sinners have no hope of their condition becoming any better because the only change will be at the Final Judgment. Then their punishments will be perfected because they will then have bodies and a new way to experience suffering. Contrapasso ensures that these souls will exist in an eternity of complete despair. Works Cited: Alighieri, Dante.

The diction Satan employs in this sentence also illuminates his intense perturbation at the thought of acknowledging God as superior. Words such as “wrath or might”, “extort”, “bow and sue for grace”, and “terror of this arm” depict God as an overbearing tyrant (I.110-113). This conveys Satan’s despondency with God’s failure to reciprocally acknowledge Satan as God demands to be glorified. Although Satan can never reconcile his two rivaling desires, his attempts for autonomy and recognition from God result in catastrophic circumstances, both for Satan and humanity. As previously established, Satan travels to Eden in order to tempt mankind.

The reader’s distaste for Satan is strengthened by Satan’s shift in motives. The conquering of humans, which he originally presented as a rebellion against God and his authoritative rule, later came to be about pure corruption and hate. It’s therefore possible to say that if Satan had never given up on his original reasoning, he would still be the hero of Paradise Lost. Works Cited # Milton, John. “Paradise Lost.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature.

Question: Compare / Contrast the characterization of Satan/the Devil as he appears in the excerpts we’ve read of the Bible vs. the characterization of Satan as he appears in Book IV of Paradise Lost. Ask anyone to draw Satan and you 'll get a red snake-like figure with horns and a pitchfork. Satan, as introduced in the Hebrew bible is an unworthy adversary of God. His longing to be like God is quickly recognized and dealt with. God banishes him from Heaven and sends him to Hell.

As shown throughout Paradise Lost, but beginning in Book 1 when Satan says "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven", Satan's biggest sin is pride and because of his pride hope is unattainable for him (line 263). Milton suggests that this is the number one reason Satan is not only thrown out of Heaven, but... ... middle of paper ... ...ed" (lines 55-57; lines 60-69). As the reader reads of the horror of hell and Satan's struggle, the reader almost becomes sucked in like one of his minions. Milton portrays Satan's position as a sad state that is blamed on everyone else but himself, when in reality that's exactly whose fault it is, Satan's. Regardless of Satan's pride and vanity and hopeless situation, the quote "The mind is its own place, and in itself/ Can make a Heaven of Hell, or a Hell of Heaven" lies as a central theme for Satan's situation (lines 254-255).

Wherever he goes, death, sin, and all things bad will follow. Through lines 98-102, the narrator is saying that there is too much hatred and sin to justify. Satan mentions that if he attempts and achieves to reconcile with God, he is bound to relapse and become worse than before. In his heart he knows that God has given up on him and the other fallen angels. They believe that God created a new world known as man, to replace them.