Satan in Paradise Lost Essay

Paradise Lost Essay Question #2

In the book Paradise Lost by John Milton, Satan is one of the most dynamic and imperative characters. He is portrayed in varied conditions, both physically and emotionally. However, in none of these circumstances is Satan portrayed as the hero.

Rare moments where Satan would grasp the full aspect of what faults he had committed would permit for some pity to be extracted from the reader. When Satan thinks about what he has done, his thoughts mirror his despair in the following words, I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; till pride and worse ambition threw me down Warring heavn against heavns matchless King: Ah wherefore! He deserved no such return From me, whom he created what I was in that bright eminence, and with his good upbraided none yet all his good proved ill in me, and wrought but malice (86), showing that he does have feelings of deep remorse. Realizing ones mistake is the first step in becoming the hero of a book. Still, the second step is when the hero takes responsibility for their mistake. Satan then contemplates further, is there no place left for repentance, non for pardon left? None left but by submission my dread of shame among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced with other promises and other vaunts than to submit how dearly I abide that boast so vain but say I could repent and could obtain by act of grace my former state; how soon would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay what feigned submission swore vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep (87), and decides to remain vain and ignorant, for fear of diminishing his pride. He was more concerned with losing the respect of those whom he had seduced into following, than he was of losing the respect of God and all those whom reside in Heaven. Satan could have apologized to God and redeemed himself, but alas, his pride was not one to be dealt with lightly. Satans immoral nature allowed him to assume that God would react to his apology the way he would have, therefore concurring that his apology could never be accepted. He then decided that trying to repent and getting rejected would bring him even lower in the eyes of all than if he just continued on and gave up being good, making evil his new good. Instead of repenting whence he understood what he had done, Satan decided that he wanted to tempt all of mankind to hell with him, so that he wouldnt suffer alone. This is where the prospects of Satan emerging as the hero of Paradise Lost came to a decisive, determined, and dead end.

On the contrary, Satan is portrayed as one who had the favor of God and a respectful position in heaven, but was overcome with thoughts of greed that eventually proved destructive, corrupting him as well as those in this world whom he will lure along with him.