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Before we take to sea we walk on land,
Before we create we must understand.
Posted by Son of Belial on February 25, 1998 at 15:20:08:
In Reply to: Essay topic-admiring Satan in Paradise lost posted by danielle on January 16, 1998 at 16:41:08:
: Essay question: some feel that Satan is to be admired in Paradise Lost for his vitality and uncompromising independence. Discuss the validity of such a view based on the contents of the poem
: Ok, why is Satan such a sympathetic character? any ideas? I'd really appreciate them!
Yes, Satan (as the main PL's character) is to be admired, has to be admired, undoubtedly.
Satan is the most powerful and humane character in PL: he is ranked first amongst the Arch-Angels: "he of the first, if not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power, in Favour and praeeminence" (V, 656-658); How could anyone be so if not by earning it by virtue, power and obedience? Though out of envy he fights the Heavenly Angels, the Father and the Son, he still is powerful and conuous. Have you never been envious? Who hasn't? Aren't we humans?
He fights, he leads his Host of Angels: "Satan with his Powers Farr was advanc't on winged speed, an Host Innumerable as the Starrs of Night" (V, 740-742). He is the Leader of many an Angel: a Chief, though a Foe of Heaven. Have you ever fought for what you think is right? Who hasn't?
He is "hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie with hideous ruine and combustion down to bottomless perdition" (I, 45-47). He is fallen. But, who hasn't fallen once, or twice, or thrice, or a thousand times?
But he rises, he addresses his Legions of fallen Cherubim, of lost Seraphim and encourages them not to stay weeping their dreadful Lot in the profoundest Hell, not to "repose their wearied vertue", not to remain in an "abject posture", defeated; on the contrary: he "calls so loud": "awake, arise, or be for ever fallen" (I, 314-330). And they all arose. Once fallen, shouldn't we rise again? Should we be for ever fallen?
He still plans to strike back: "Warr then, Warr open or understood must be resolved" (I, 661-662). And he, with his Peers consent, resolves though "long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light" (II, 432-433), "through all the coasts of dark destruction seek deliverance for us all" (II,464-465). And this, not only for his Warriors, but also for his Daughter-Darling and his fair Son: "to set free from out this dark and dismal house of pain, both him and thee" (II, 822-824). He stands as a redeemer, a liberator of his friends and family. Who wouldn't? Wouldn't you do it for your beloved one, for your offspring? Can we say Adam did the same after he and Eve were ousted from paradise? No.
I don't want to present further examples. My conclusion is that Satan (as the poem's main character) must be admired as a Paradigm, as a Warrior, as a Leader, and, most of all, as a brave, bold and courageous man...
Well, I must go, murmuring, and with me will flie the shades of Night...
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