Character Analysis: Paradise Lost By John Milton

ENG 361

Professor Prescott

March 29, 2018

Falling for the Devil

John Milton wrote one of the greatest epic poems of all time when he wrote Paradise Lost. The book portrays the story of man’s creation and fall while detailing the characters and plot beyond what the Bible teaches. When reading Milton’s poems, one must determine which character is the hero of the epic poem. One of the most controversial characters within the story is Satan. When thinking of a hero, the reader would normally presume the Messiah as the hero, or Adam, or perhaps even Eve. However, Satan’s character is such a dynamic and complicated one that it is compelling not to ask; can Satan somehow be a hero too? This one topic has been debated for hundreds of years. While

The first is Milton’s description of him in Book 1, which shows us that although he has brilliant qualities, his spirit and heart are set on purposefully doing harm and leading others astray from the way of God. The second is that although it is only lightly hinted at in the early books, The Son of God enters the plot later and is the true hero. In this essay, I will further analyze the personality and actions of Satan and discuss how although it is easy for us to sympathize with him, he is ultimately not the hero to the story. Satan’s “heroic” persona is heavily focused on in the first few books to show us the complexity of his character and make him more relatable to the reader. The first two books of Paradise Lost describe Satan, one-third of Heaven’s fallen angels, and their experiences after their eviction. From the beginning of Book 1, we are introduced first to Satan before any other character. He has just fallen from Heaven and is greeted by Beelzebub. As he inspects his new surroundings, he realizes that he is in Hell. Satan compares the new world to Paradise and feels lost because everything is different

However, we must remember that his intentions are evil. Satan is far from being the story’s object of admiration, nor does it make sense for readers to praise or follow him, like they would with a true hero. Yet there are many persuasive qualities to his character that make him so interesting to readers. Satan continues to show us the flaws in his character. This is more evident in his speech for his army. Without a doubt, we can all agree that Satan is the best speaker in the entire poem. His speech has us almost rooting for him, as it is oozing with confidence and pride. After the Fall, Satan is quick to jump back on his feet, more determined now than ever to go against God’s ways. He is insistent on getting revenge from The Creator of mankind by destroying that very creation. As cool and likeable Satan may be, we must remember that Satan is truly evil; he cannot be the hero to the story. He is, however, really good at making the reader think that he may be the hero we need. He makes God, The Messiah, and Adam seem bland and typical compared to his charming façade. His personality comes off as brave and confident in front of his followers; his speeches are exciting and full of life. He declares, "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" (1.263) He displays great