How is the character of Satan portrayed
How is the character of Satan portrayed in Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’?
In the text, Satan is one of the main points of focus, especially in the first two books, introducing him to the reader, telling the story of his fall from a position alongside God, and how he intends to overthrow God at some point, and gain a position of power. Satan could be considered as a hero in this text, if his intentions were not bad, but still he is attempting to overcome his own personal doubt and weakness and achieve the goal that he desires to complete of corrupting humankind as God’s creation. Satan is an interesting character to observe, and was clearly an intricate and detailed character for Milton to write about; this ability to describe Satan in a more interesting way than, for example God is described, comes from the fact that Satan is evil and has flaws, so giving Milton more to work with having more sides to his character than simply being wholly good. Satan has many imperfections and flaws in his character, and this is shown early on in books one and two of the text. This potentially draws the reader into a position where they can sympathise with his character, and feel sorry for him and his situation in resistance against God. Milton could be making Satan seem this way, potentially even as a heroic character on a quest to overthrow God, so that we take his side easily, showing how evil forces can easily tempt us into thinking from their perspectives; if this is the case it can show the reader how they need to be more resistant against temptation and the devil. The first of these flaws that Satan exhibits in the text is his pride. Satan refuses to put himself in a position which would spoil the image of his character, and takes great stock in doing everything by himself against God. This gives Satan a false sense of hope when he first took battle to God and heaven; “How such united force of gods, how such as stood like these, could ever know repulse?” (1.629-30). Satan is
In the text, Satan is one of the main points of focus, especially in the first two books, introducing him to the reader, telling the story of his fall from a position alongside God, and how he intends to overthrow God at some point, and gain a position of power. Satan could be considered as a hero in this text, if his intentions were not bad, but still he is attempting to overcome his own personal doubt and weakness and achieve the goal that he desires to complete of corrupting humankind as God’s creation. Satan is an interesting character to observe, and was clearly an intricate and detailed character for Milton to write about; this ability to describe Satan in a more interesting way than, for example God is described, comes from the fact that Satan is evil and has flaws, so giving Milton more to work with having more sides to his character than simply being wholly good. Satan has many imperfections and flaws in his character, and this is shown early on in books one and two of the text. This potentially draws the reader into a position where they can sympathise with his character, and feel sorry for him and his situation in resistance against God. Milton could be making Satan seem this way, potentially even as a heroic character on a quest to overthrow God, so that we take his side easily, showing how evil forces can easily tempt us into thinking from their perspectives; if this is the case it can show the reader how they need to be more resistant against temptation and the devil. The first of these flaws that Satan exhibits in the text is his pride. Satan refuses to put himself in a position which would spoil the image of his character, and takes great stock in doing everything by himself against God. This gives Satan a false sense of hope when he first took battle to God and heaven; “How such united force of gods, how such as stood like these, could ever know repulse?” (1.629-30). Satan is