Satan's Character in Paradise Lost (Research Paper Sample)

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Satan’s Character in Paradise Lost
In Paradise Lost, the author makes Satan the protagonist or a hero of the story, since he struggles to defeat his weaknesses and doubts and at the same time achieves his aim of corrupting man. This is an evil goal, which defines Satan’s character and actions throughout the poem. Although Satan does not have a figure to be admired by the readers, he has many compelling qualities that make him fascinating and intriguing to the audience. The essay discusses Satan’s character in Paradise Lost. The essay analyzes Satan’s actions and motivations in the poem. It also discusses why Satan rebels God’s authority. The essay concludes by discussing what Satan desires in being a rebellious character in the story.
In the poem, Satan strikes a majestic and grand figure, which is not afraid of getting damned eternally. Satan is also not cowed by terrifying figures such as death or chaos. According to some scholars, the author makes Satan appear appealing and heroic in the poem to make us sympathize with him. Making Satan appear heroic is also done to make us see the seductive nature of evil, and learn how to be robust in resisting evil and its appeal. The greatest fault in Satan’s character and actions is his pride (Sarkar 118). God knew that Satan was out to corrupt His favorite creation, which is man. To save humankind, God had to use his son, where he made him their ruler. Satan makes himself an innocent victim, who is overlooked by God for an important promotion. It is surprising that Satan can think in such a selfish way in heaven, where other angles feel loved and happy. Satan’s action is motivated by his confidence in thinking that he had the capacity to overthrow God, which shows his pride and vanity.
There are many reasons why Satan thinks of overthrowing God. His rebellion starts right after God summons all his angels in Heaven to inform them that he had appointed his son to be their ruler. God required all the angles to bow and knee to His chosen Son. However, according to Satan, he and the chosen Son were equal in terms of ranking. Satan concludes that God is unjust in exalting His Son (Sarkar 118). Satan becomes adamant about surrendering his personal freedom or submitting to God’s Son, which he considers illegitimate reign. Satan appeals to his fellow angels to protest the unjust exaltation of God’s Son.
Satan is joined by a third of the angles, which makes him criticize the angels who fail to follow him. This is another major reason Satan rebels, God even more. Satan makes his followers attack heaven. Even while in hell, he remains committed to what he considers just. Satan implores his followers to have the power and courage never to yield or submit. Another major reason Satan rebel against heaven is his perception that God’s reign was Heaven’s tyranny. After God defeats Satan and his followers, He throws them down from heaven, which is an act that exercises the free will of the rebels (Sarkar 119). Satan’s free will is another reason he tries to capture more and more followers. Satan uses his free will to motivate his followers, comforting them that all was not lost. Satan urges his troops that they have the intellectual ability to create their heaven or earth.
Satan has good motivational skills. The motivational skills are so good, which makes the author remove them from the end of the book to at the time when Satan and God started struggling. Some of the motivational skills that the author uses to make Satan convincing are intelligent, articulate, strong and proud. Satan uses his motivational skills to establish a better and a stronger kingdom than God’s tyranny. He convinces a good number of angels to join him and rebel against God’s decision to exalt his son.
Satan’s desire in the poem is shown by his desire to make us sympathize with him, which would make us follow him. When reaching earth, Satan shares his alienation and pain, which makes the reader identify and sympathize with him. The author is able to introduce Satan as a sympathetic character in the poem. This is done despite Satan being labeled as the source of evil. In the first chapter, the author presents the reader with some of the frustrations that Satan had. According to Satan, God tricked them into giving power of his Son, which makes him convince his followers of the trickery. Satan desired to battle with God. Satan influenced his troops in believing that God was not as almighty as He claimed, and thus they could prove in a battle. However, after God overpowers them, Satan desires to revenge. He urges his troop to be stronger in order to make hell a living heaven an...