Character Analysis of Satan in Miltons Paradise Lost

Favorite Character in Paradise Lost One of the most intriguing characters in the epic Paradise Lost is Satan who rebels against God and chooses to live his life on his own terms. While Satan is commonly associated with evil, John Milton portrays him sympathetically and shows uses him as a tool to demonstrate the power of free will. In Paradise Lost, Satan can be considered to be the ultimate rebel. Not only does he defy God, but he also influences others to think for themselves and to blindly follow others. In a way, Satans rebellion is reminiscent of Platos The Allegory of the Cave. It can be argued that Satan has come to realize that he has other options and has the option of breaking free from ignorance. The allure of free will is where the attractiveness and power of Satans character lies (Zeng). Satan is an individual who wants to break others from their ignorance and will do so by appealing to their reason and encouraging them to make their own decisions (Plato). Moreover, Satan did not force Eve to eat the Forbi dden Fruit as Eve contends before eating it, Our reason is our Law (Milton Book IX line 654). Additionally, Satan is not described by Milton as someone that forceful, but rather is repeatedly referred to as The Tempter (Book IX, line 665). Aside from his ability to reason, and also to bring others to think for themselves, Satan is also highly independent and refuses to let himself be controlled by someone who he does not think to be worthy ofShow MoreRelatedSatan As A Hero And A Villain916 Words   |  4 PagesSatan as a Hero and a Villain (Analysis of Satan in John Milton’s Paradise Lost) John Milton created Paradise Lost out of twelve books of well constructed poetry. A poem depicting and going into detail of the story of Adam and Eve, man’s creation and fall. The poem focuses on the actions of one particular character, Satan. 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