Utopia Lost

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My interpretation of Satan's character is such a fickle one. I feel bad for him at times and loathe him at others. In multiple instances in books III and IV, Satan seems jealous of God's new creation (humans). For example, in lines 23-26 of book IV, Satan is clearly saddened at the memory of what he used to be. Satan reiterates his despair again in lines 37-40 as he speaks to the sun. What struck me as odd about his character, though, is how he actually admits in these lines that he understands he has faults. "...till pride and worse ambition threw me down..." is how Satan puts it. If God is perfect, and known perfect among all even if as a tyrant, I can't fathom how Satan, knowing he is faulted, can see himself as equal to God. I personally feel like it seems contradictory if my interpretation is correct. Nevertheless, I enjoy viewing Satan in this poem with actual emotion rather than pure wrath as the world is common to portraying. Again, it adds to being able to interpret his character as both protagonist and antagonist, and I enjoy seeing the arguments made on both sides.

P.S. I commented on Zelda's and Natalie's post

Comments

  1. Zelda PeachAugust 28, 2017 at 8:16 PM

    I agree that Satan is jealous of the humans, but I am uncertain on whether or not Satan understands he is at fault. He certainly recognizes the events that have happened, but he always places blame on something else. I don't think he sees his pride and ambition as a bad thing, just something he has and a reason to blame for why he could never be happy in heaven instead of recognizing his horrid sin in betraying God. I agree also that Satan's character in this epic is quite refreshing in contrast to the stereotype we are all used to seeing. That is one of the wonderful things about an epic, it takes something we all know and builds and twists the story to show something entirely new.

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  2. Darby CallicuttAugust 28, 2017 at 9:33 PM

    Yeah Satan is very contradictory and only aims to give himself the glory. I cannot fathom either that Satan knows he is faulty but believe that he can be God. Sometimes, I feel when I am reading that I myself am being manipulated by Satan's character.

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  3. UnknownAugust 28, 2017 at 11:10 PM

    Satan is definitely very hard to understand in these chapters. No longer is he that one-dimensional character that was 100% bad and just wanted to find a way out of Hell. Now, we see him for what he is: a fallen angel that sees to some degree that he is wrong, yet refuses to admit it. I agree he seems to constantly contradict himself, but I think Milton does that on purpose to show just how messed-up Satan is.

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