Satan's Ambition

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In the beginning of book four, we open with Satan recalling what life was like in heaven. In lines 20-25 the text reads “Now conscience wakes despair that slumbred, wakes the bitter memorie of what he was, what is, and what must be worse”. Satan says shortly after how he hates the sun that beams for it is a reminder of where he came from and how far he fell. What is key to me though is what he says next in lines 39 and 40 “how glorious once above thy spheare; till Ambition threw me down”. Ambition, this is one of the many excuses Satan uses as for as why he fell instead of accepting his own sin.  Satan in some way is scared of the responsibility that comes with being the source of his downfall. Throughout the books l- lV so far Satan has never fully accepted that his downfall is his own fault. Instead, he blames it on God being a tyrant or his will to become better. Satan says that he could never be fully happy in heaven because of this ambition and that he could never reconcile with God because ( in lines 98-99 ) “ For never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pirced so bad”.  

P.S I commented on Trey and Carmen's post. 

Comments

  1. Ty GoramAugust 28, 2017 at 7:22 PM

    I have to agree with Satan being scared of being responsible for the downfall, but I feel he has no sort of remorse for what happened to those that fell with/because of him. I feel like he's only scared for himself.

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  2. Carmen KnowlesAugust 28, 2017 at 8:05 PM

    We had the same text catch us in different directions. In lines 39-40, you say Satan uses ambition as an excuse to why he fell. I, however, feel that the wording could imply Satan admitting his own faults, or at least his understanding of God's reasoning for "throwing him down".

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  3. Nathanael C. CarrollAugust 28, 2017 at 9:08 PM

    I personally feel like Satan is more of coming to terms with everything, as opposed to blaming God. He looks for a way to justify his new role in the universe, thus finds a way to feel comfortable hating the deity.

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