The Real Hero of Paradise Lost by John Milton

SATAN’S CHARACTER OR

THE HERO OF PARADISE LOST

Raleigh says: “The epic value of paradise lost is centered in the character and achievements of Satan.”

One of the most prominent and distinguished achievements of Milton in the history of English literature is the depiction and portrayal of Satan’s character. He has infused all his literary and intellectual abilities to create a character like Satan. Satan is brave and heroic like Prometheus, a sincere, devoted and a powerful leader like Napoleon. He is noble like Robinhood and in oratory, he can be compared with Antony and Socrates. In deception and conspiracy, he can be compared with Ulysses. Now let’s Satan’s qualities and find out whether he is a hero of this poem or not.

The character of Satan is the most exalted and most depraved character in “Paradise Lost.”He possesses all the characteristics of an epic hero. No doubt, he is an outcast from heaven, hell is at his feet, sin and death are at his heels and mankind is his easy prey. Self-exaltation (خودنمائی) is the motive of all the speeches delivered by Satan. Even in his time of crises and defeat, he is not ready to give in before any type of situation. He says:

“What though the field be lost,

All is not lost, the unconquerable will,

And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never to submit or yield.”

These words bring before us the main trait of Satan. He is determined and ready to wage an eternal war by force and will of God against the authority of God. Even after being an outcast from heaven, he is still optimist. He proudly utters: “The mind is its own and in itself can make a heaven of hall, a hall of heaven.” Further he declares logically “Evil” the main pursuit and motivating force of his action. He says: “To do ought good never mill be our task.” He is fully satisfied to think that he has got the freedom to do whatever he likes without any restriction. He says: “Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.”

The towering personality of Satan is striking and leaves a powerful impact on our minds. He appears before us as a giant sprawling over the burning lake of fire. With his fiery speeches, he has the ability to foster new zeal and zest in his followers. On the request made by Beelzebub, he calls his followers “Matchless Powers.” He says:

“Princes, Potentates, Warriors, the Flowers of Heaven,

Once yours, now lost.”

On one occasion, we see Satan rebuking Beelzebub when he shows some despair. Satan says: “To be weak is miserable doing or suffering.” In short, Satan has so many qualities that gain our respect and admiration. He has indomitable courage, determination and the power of recovering from defeat. All these qualities make him a good hero. Robert Burn says: “Give me a spirit like my favourite hero, Milton’s Satan.”

But as the poem proceeds, the character of Satan loses the impression it creates earlier. We see that he is a degenerated figure whose main shortcoming is his pride. It is his pride that incites him to have an eternal war against God.

“Ah gentle pair, ye little think how high

Your change approaches, when all these delights

Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe

-------------------------------------------

Though I unpitied.”

This is the point where Satan’s downfall starts. But we are surprised to see him losing his pride and hiding himself in its “Mazy Folds.” In later parts of the book, he appears before us as a cunning villain. Those who think that Satan is the hero have confined their criticism and analysis to the first two books. “The interest of the story collects at first round the character of Satan, but he grows meaner as the poem develops.

On the other hand, some critics believe that Adam is the hero of this drama. They think that no doubt Adam is neither a warrior nor a conqueror. He is not a heroic figure in the same sense as Achilles is. But Paradise Lost is a different kind of epic from Homer’s Iliad. As Milton himself says:

“----------------------- Yet argument

Not less but more heroic than the wrath of stern Achilles.”

So, one thing that raises his level in our eyes is that he is nobler than the heroes of war. He is one who suffers a lot in the poem. But, some critics like Surat say that Adam cannot be declared the hero of this poem because he has no comparison with Satan.

But there are some critics who think that Milton has identified himself with Satan against despotic authority of Charles by giving him Satan’s pride, invincible temper, love for liberty, defiance of autocratic authority and heroic energy but this opinion has been formed through the reading of first two books. But in the later books, being a Christian he sides with Adam against Satan and in this way foils the plan of Satan. That’s why, sometimes Milton is declared the hero of this poem by some critics.

To sum up the discussion, we can say without any hesitation and fear of contradiction that Adam is the hero of this drama because God is pampering Adam. It is he who acts and suffers most. In so far as the controversy of Satan as a hero is concerned, I think he is just the central figure and motivating force in “Paradise Lost.” He is a tragic figure like Macbeth. In basic details, he is more like Brutus. Like Oedipus, he is a tragic figure caught in the web of fate and like a true tragic hero, he is faced with “Hubris” due to his pride. Further, impressive speeches are not enough to declare him the hero. However, one thing is clear that this poem would have been a theological thesis and not a real epic of real value if the character of Satan had not been introduced in such a forceful way. (Words: 993)