How do you understand the major character Satan in Paradise Lost?PPT
John Milton's Paradise Lost is centered around the fall of Satan and his ange...
John Milton's Paradise Lost is centered around the fall of Satan and his angels, as well as the story of Adam and Eve's lives in Eden. Satan, as the major character, plays a crucial role in the poem. He is depicted as a complex, multifaceted figure, often with qualities that are both heroic and villainous.Satan's Heroic QualitiesBrilliance and WisdomOne of Satan's most prominent and initially admired qualities is his brilliance and wisdom. He is described as "brighter than the sons of men" (PL, 3.123) and his eloquence and cunningness in manipulating others to his cause is often lauded. For instance, he successfully persuades Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit by appealing to their curiosity and desire for knowledge (PL, 9.701-726).RebelliousnessSatan's refusal to submit to God's will and his determination to assert his own autonomy sets him apart as a figure of great defiance. This characteristic of Satan was in fact Milton's response to the contemporary political landscape in England, where the rule of the Stuart kings was increasingly autocratic and Milton saw Satan's rebellion as a symbol of resistance to such oppression.Satan's Villainous QualitiesDeceit and TreacheryAlthough Satan initially appears as a figure of great heroism, Milton gradually reveals his darker side, particularly through his actions towards God. His fall from Heaven is the result of his rebellion against God, but he also betrays his own army by leading them astray. His actions towards Adam and Eve in Eden are also duplicitous, masking his true intentions under a guise of friendship (PL, 9.105-120).Selfishness and PrideSatan's chief sin is his pride, which causes him to envy God's power and authority. This pride compels him to violate God's orders and ensnares him in eternal damnation. Satan's actions highlight one of the major themes in Paradise Lost: the wages of sin and the consequences of disobedience.Satan as a Tragic FigureSatan's characterization as a tragic figure is a key element of Milton's poem. He is a victim of his own hubris and folly, doomed to an eternal hell for rebelling against the Almighty. Satan's fall from grace is reminiscent of the Greek tragedies, where characters often pay a heavy price for their actions. Satan's situation also parallels that of Oedipus Rex, who similarly pays for his hubris and erre with exile and dismemberment.Satan as a Symbolic FigureIn addition to his role as a tragic hero, Satan also serves as a symbolic figure in Paradise Lost. He represents Milton's views on freedom, rebellion, and political autonomy. In Milton's eyes, Satan's actions were not completely reprehensible; rather, they were expressions of free will and rebellion against absolute rule. Satan represents the fallen angelic host who challenges God's authority and questions His decisions, much like Milton's contemporary Englishmen who were rebelling against Stuart absolutism.ConclusionThe characterization of Satan in Paradise Lost is one of Milton's most complex creations. He is both a tragic figure and a symbol of political resistance, representing Milton's views on freedom and rebellion against autocratic rule. Satan's multifaceted personality and his actions towards Adam and Eve set him up as one of the most important characters in this epic poem, responsible for much of its conflict and drama. Milton's depiction of Satan goes beyond the traditional portrayal of the devil in English Renaissance literature, making him a more complex and layered character.Works Cited"Paradise Lost." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. W.W. Norton & Company2012
