Four of the devils speak - Moloch, Belial, Mammon, and Beelzebub - with Beelzebub being Satan's mouthpiece. But let’s go with the light.At the start of Book II, Satan sits on his throne like a Middle Eastern potentate and addresses the assembled devils as to the course of action they should follow. Or maybe it’s because we’re all just really messed up. So, why are we drawn to darkness? Perhaps it’s because sometimes, just sometimes, it tells a better story, and the light shines brighter there. But whatever camp they, and you, do choose to sit in, we must admit, sympathy for the devil does have a pretty nice tune. It’s all a giant mess, and sympathy, spice, and spite are camps visited, and often revisited, by our readers. My hunt to uncover modern day readerprints and understand what respondents think of Satan’s character has been no easy feat. But it is also the very reason why it was, and still is, praised so highly. This, of course, is a reason why Paradise Lost has been critiqued as being problematic for some readers of faith. The dichotomy between readers loving and hating the character of Satan is a storm that may never settle. Critic Stanley Fish argues that this is all part of the plan, stating that we are attracted to Satan because we ourselves are fallen, and as readers we need to experience the Fall just as Adam did. By giving us access to Satan’s complex interiority, we are made to sympathise with the devil. Milton’s intention was to make us understand why Satan rebelled against God, and in doing so the poet crafts a self-aware creature, who at times is filled with remorse. To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav’n.” Still threatning to devour me opens wide, Which way I flie is Hell my self am Hell Perhaps the one thing Paradise Lost is best known for is its ability to invite us to think about the character of Satan in a new way. Though you’re probably wondering, aren’t we supposed to hate this guy? Well, no, actually. People are really out there vibing to his pain. This is evident in the world of sound, where the fascination with the fallen is found in Mumford and Sons’ song “Darkness Visible” dedicated to an excerpt from Book 1 in Paradise Lost, where Satan being punished for defying God is described. Okay, maybe a little, but it is no surprise to see that many have taken inspiration from the Miltonic blueprint for Satan. The television show Lucifer goes further, casting a tall, semi-attractive (don’t let my dad read this) white man, as a conflicted, crime-solving protagonist, who gives up his hedonistic ways and slowly becomes more human.īut what does Milton say? Funnily enough, the apples haven’t fallen THAT far from the tree. The Simpsons say he’s a red faced, black horned dude with a six-pack. Satan features often, and quite frequently, in popular culture. And every day… we stray further away from God’s light. Fear has dwindled into something new, something sexier. However, where folks once trembled at the thought of the king of Hell reigning over them, now that relationship seems to have changed. This act of defiance secured Satan a hateful haven in Hell, and he has been God’s nemesis since. 263) Satan exclaimed, standing tall and proud, crowning himself with dominion over the fellow-fallen who followed him onto the path of revolt. "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" (Book I, l. WHO is he? WHAT is he? Well, I mean, he’s a pretty big deal, and we’ve all heard of him, but let’s give the devil his due.Īn architect of misery, the once loved and forever fallen angel, failed to yield and took up arms against God. So, in this light-hearted, banter-heavy blog, I thought I’d introduce you to one of the epic’s main characters: Satan. I must take this opportunity to say that I am very sincerely sorry for the absolute chaos that I predict it unleashed on your brains. Since then, a few of you were bold enough to buy yourselves a copy of the epic poem. If you recall, a few months ago I wrote an introductory blog for my research on modern day readers of John Milton’s Paradise Lost (you can read it here).
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