Ramblings // Samantha T

    There seems to be a slight shift in how I saw Satan in book 4. We see a sad, jealous demon who wishes he was human. Where just before he was looming over the other demons in Hell making up their grand plan to corrupt God's new creation. We see him now sneaking around as different animals trying to find out how to bring down the people he wishes he was. 

    It reads like we're almost supposed to feel bad for Satan as he looks around the beauty of the Garden. Satan remarks about how he doesn't feel like he belongs on earth because Hell is in him now, and I genuinely felt bad for him at that moment. He was surrounded by the glory of God's creation and felt sorrow because he no longer belonged. He sees the bliss of no knowledge of good or evil that Adam and Eve have and realizes there must be a way to ruin that. That moment is when I remembered what he was there for and even in his sorrows, he is his biggest enemy. Once he sees the fruit and overhears its purpose all feelings of pity for Satan left and I couldn't redeem him to myself anymore.     

    The narrative progresses to Satan posing as a toad whispering to Eve as she sleeps. Angles sent out by Gabriel find him and bring him back to the archangel now. The conversation between Gabriel and Satan goes back and forth a bit to the point where they're prepaid to fight each other then and there. A sign is sent from heaven though that runs Satan off, this part I find weird. Why would Milton set up this moment where Satan could've been stopped and then have God stop it from happening? I know Milton wants us to see how we cannot distinguish God's perfect will but adding a moment where God allows Satan to get away from his archangel? It just really doesn't make sense. 


P.S. I will be commenting on Emory Copper's and Emma Dalgety's posts. 

  

Comments

  1. Bug OlsenSeptember 14, 2021 at 12:02 AM

    I agree with your feelings towards Satan in this section, and I found somewhat sympathetic as well because we have a look in to his inner thoughts on his banishment and sorrow at finding the beauty of Eden. But even though it is his own fault, he does not show as much remorse as I think he should and it explains why he would go through with his plan to tempt Adam and Eve.

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  2. IsabelleSeptember 14, 2021 at 9:27 AM

    Thank you! I agree. I feel conflicted, because I feel bad for Satan. But....It's SATAN! There is a definite contrast in Book 1 in the way Satan puts himself up on a pedestal and pretends not to be bothered by the world. Book 4 and 5 have me feeling feelings that I don't want to feel.

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