Paradise Lost
The argument over who is the true protagonist of Paradise Lost, has been brewing for centuries. One would think that Milton, a Puritan, would have no problem casting God as the hero, and Satan as the antagonist. But looking back in0 history, Milton saw that most epic heroes had conflicts that prevented them from accomplishing their goals. God and his Son have no conflict, and Adam's story doesn't really begin until the fall of man. Therefore, Milton was forced to select Satan as the hero of Paradise Lost because he adheres to the guidelines of epic poetry set by Homer and others. There are many examples of how Milton uses the tradition of these previous epics in the formation of the Devil as a hero. One of the most basic examples of heroism in epic poetry is the feeling that the leader relays to his followers. In The Odyssey, Homer has Odysseus give a speech that would convince anyone they could survive the journey to the Strait of Messina, "Then we die with our eyes open, if we are going to die, or know what death we baffle if we can.(ln.1243-1245)" After passing the Sirens, the ship approaches the Strait, and the crew sees the twin terrors of Scylla and Charybdis, they are mortified. Odysseus again lifts the
One of Milton's ideas is that God knows what Satan will do before he actually does it. The interuption of the muses describes most but not all of the trials and tribulations of Odysseus. Had Satan served God willfully, the war never would have raged in Heaven, and Satan and his Army never would've been thrown in the fiery pits of Hell. This is where Milton's poetic side and his religious side clash. Unlike most epic heroes, Satan does not necessarily come out on top at the end of his quest. All the angels face a bad situation and yet Satan exites them all with a speech. Since by Fate the strength of Gods and Empyreal substance cannot fail, Since though experience of this great event in Arms not worse, in foresight much advance's, We may with more successful hope resolve to wage by force or guile eternal War irreconcilable, to our grand Foe, who now triumphs, and in th'excess of joy sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n. Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven. His speech also spurns the angels into some positive action. After suffering a major defeat at the hands of the Almighty, Satan awakens in a lake of fire. This man makes a vow to destroy or corrupt anything created by the clan. However, without that action Satan would not be a hero. This is where many are quick to judge and point out that since Satan losses, he can not be an epic hero. In Paradise Lost, this is used in the opening scene.
Common topics in this essay:
Paradise Lost,
Odysseus Tell,
Milton Satan,
Satan Christian,
Heaven258-263 Beelzebub,
Scylla Charybdis,
Hell Fire,
Gods Empyreal,
Heav'n106-109116-124 Beelzebub,
Almighty Satan,
paradise lost,
epic hero,
fallen angels,
epic poetry,
satan hero,
hero satan,
epic heroes,
speech satan,
satan's journey,
adam eve,
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Acceptance Essays
