Paradise Lost – What Do We Learn About Satan’s Character from Line 84 To Line 191?

Miltons portrait of friction match has fascinated critics since Paradise Losts first publication, leading some in the romantic period to claim that daemon is, in fact, the heroic protagonist of the whole work. Certainly Miltons description of Satan has greatly influenced the devils image in western art and literature since the books publication. From lines 84 to 191 in Paradise Lost Book 1, we are introduced to the character of Satan, who has just been hurled from heaven, be drift he trusted to have equalled the Most High.As a reader, integrity first meets a stunned Satan, chained down to the fiery lake of hell, surrounded by his co-conspirators. From lines 84 to 127, where Satan is speaking to his good friend, Beelzebub, Milton presents him as macrocosm nostalgic about heaven, Myriads, though bright something one sees significantly for the first and last quantify throughout the poem. Satans great yearning for heaven is brief, and when finally suppressed, Milton offers a fine and revealing role model of Satans rhetoric and quick-moving contradictions, as he instantly expresses excuses for his failure.Firstly, he declares that Till then who knew, the force of those dire arms? explaining how they were una contende of Gods kings before testing him. This is supportive evidence, okay up the suggestion that Satan is the supposed Father Of Lies, as he is seen to be directly manipulating the truth. He manages to make He with his thunder sound as though God had taken unfair advantage by using an illegal weapon. More all over, he never refers to God by his name, but as He, The potent victor, or Our grand foe.He makes a virtue out of his unwillingness to Repent or change the very unwillingness which imprisons him eternally in the hell of himself. Much of what Satan says makes him sound grand and admirable because of the rhetorical force with which it is expressed, however when studied more closely it is seen to be more hollow, and even absurd. Satan claims tha t in the war against God, He shook his throne, and that the battle was dubious that it could have gone either way. This is evidently untrue, and again contributes to the image of him being a rather desperate liar.Satans remarkably obvious sense of optimism becomes greatly evident towards the end of his speech, where he describes all the positive things that have been the outcome of their war. Firstly he boasts of how they have now gained experience of Gods power through experience of this great event, and then he persuades himself they have learnt a lesson from defeat, and in foresight frequently advanced, will do better next time in the eternal war. In my opinion however, Satans brave face is merely superficial.Beneath, he is racked with deep despair, his essential spiritual condition. His public face, is that of supreme dissembler, and it is impossible to lie with the extent to which he is deceived by his own rhetoric. This idea, creates effects of sympathy towards Satans cha racter as it almost suggests that he is hopeless and possibly even doomed. Throughout this token speech, Milton in my opinion, indirectly forces juxtaposing emotions upon his readers in relation to the character of Satan being that of sympathy Vs perplexity.The get holding of sympathy, as he seems so determined to be a successful leader, however it is clear that he does not really know himself where he is leading to. Even though one might feel this pity, the admiration of his great courage to rebel against authority makes Satan more appealing and likable as a rebel. From lines 128 55, Beelzebub, the born second-in-command replies to Satan beginning by being sycophantic towards him, and then continuing the myth that their rebellion had endangered god.In contrast to Miltons confident and optimistic portrayal of Satan, he presents Beelzebub in a much dimmer light portraying him as being heavily depressed through the repetitive use of emotive language, using words such as destruct ion, misery, pain and fire. This key difference in character highlights the extent of Satans sheer optimism in their situation, making him appear plausible for his determination and great courage, of which he appears to possess over the other rebel angel.Following Beelzebubs pessimistic and sorrowful reply, Satan forcefully attacks him with a powerful and persuasive speech, desperately hoping to uplift his despair. From comments such as, to be worn is miserable, one learns that Satan is determined to scotch such defeatist talk and to abolish any sense of weakness. Although Satan shows signs of great commitment in his want to pervert Gods providence, I think that he knows in his heart that he is on a hiding to nothing and the worst he can do is cause God temporary inconvenience.Words such as disturb and perhaps grieve illustrate Satans rather poor plans to merely irritate God, with his language generally lacking the vigour one would expect from Satan. Although Satan lacks in the qu ality of his plans, he does successfully manage to in-force a sense of time and place as well as a feeling of unity, for example through Our enemy, Our Own loss. The effect of this is that it brings the rebels closer together reminding them that they have each-other, and therefore have a side.This shows us that Satan has great lead skills, in that he holds the situation together and persuades his friends to follow his plans. Overall, I believe that from lines 84 to 191, Milton offers his readers an extremely complex and diverse view of Satans character, indicating rather important aspects that his nature appears to dominate. As the image created is rather dependable, my personal attitude towards him so far is greatly ambiguous, feeling both attraction, and repulsion many people, it is relevant to add feel the same about snakes.The most notable aspects that have so far had effect shaping my view of his personality are his sheer courage and skill that he appears to have on such an enormous scale. However, when analysing the value of these qualities in themselves one is forced to question their significance. In actual fact, when studying all study aspects of Satans character so far the discussion of him rapidly turns into a series of endless questions, which I hope will soon be answered as the poem develops.