Sorry for Satan // Haylee Lynd

    Satan, the embodiment Hell, understands that as the creation of his creator he should not have acted as he did. He admits that the service of God was not even hard. He states, "Ah wherefore! He deserved no such return / From me, whom He created what I was / ... Nor was his service hard..." (4. 42-45). Despite this, Satan says that even if God would've made him a lesser angel, he probably would have still rebelled. Satan seems to begin his monologue in Book IV in a repentant manner. He seems so human. It appears he truly understands what he has done wrong. I mean, here he is, admitting it. It almost feels like Satan is going to be repent...or that he could. But, he can't. Even if he begged, Satan has no hope for redemption. Satan cannot be helped because his sin came from himself. He was not tempted by some outside source like humankind. Sin literally sprang from his mind. He created it.  Satan never begs for mercy though. He never truly repents or asks for forgiveness. He feels and he knows that he is beyond saving. And here, as strange as it is, is where I find myself sympathetic to Satan. There have been so many times where I have felt I was beyond saving, even as a believer, and I know that I truly do not deserve it. However, Jesus has died on the cross for me. I am able to accept the gift of salvation. it has been offered to me. I can't imagine how hopeless I would be and feel if I knew there was no way I could be connected with God again. If after the first time I sinned, I could never be redeemed. I'm not saying what Satan did is right. By all means, sin is wrong. By all means, Satan has no excuse for his sin. However, I can't imagine knowing that there is no hope for myself.  Furthermore, Satan turns further away from his sin because he know God won't accept him and he despairs because of it. Yet, some people turn further away from God and don't accept God's gift despite knowing that they could be saved. I think that's baffling. 

I truly enjoy that Milton gives Satan this monologue, however. It accomplishes its goal or painting Satan as a character the reader can sympathize with. At least, I could.

P.S. I commented on Abigayle's and Breanna's posts.

Comments

  1. Taylor ViceSeptember 13, 2021 at 6:50 PM

    At times, I too begin to feel sorry for Satan, but as I look back, I realize that he is the one who created sin. Sin did not even exist before Satan chose to disobey God. He was living what was considered to be the perfect life, but it still was not enough for him. At times, it may seem as if Satan wants to repent for his actions, but he is unable to because he knows it will never go back to the way as it was before he made the decision of starting a rebellion against God. I do agree that this monologue shows Satan as a character that can be sympathized, which is honestly a hard thing to accomplish when pretty much every Christian views Satan as the worst creature to ever exist.

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  2. Emmett BryantSeptember 13, 2021 at 7:30 PM

    Haylee I am so glad to see someone else touched on this! That entire section it is almost as if I was inwardly rooting for Satan to make the right decision, to turn back to God. I think that says something about how we hope for the good of all people, even those who have no return. I truly believe God gave us the capacity to care like that and want to see all turn to the Father and it's a beautiful thing.

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  3. Emily ThullesenSeptember 13, 2021 at 8:41 PM

    This was something I noticed too! I felt myself feeling compassionate for Satan in a way, which sounds crazy, but he is made out to be relatable in a way because we suffer from this sinful nature too. Thankfully, we are given the grace of God and the opportunity to repent of our sins. I found myself rooting for the fact that Satan had the opportunity to turn away, but we know that this is not the case. It is indeed a baffling topic.

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  4. Justin JSeptember 13, 2021 at 11:33 PM

    I think the impossibility of Satan's repentance is, at least in this story, a bit of circular reasoning. Satan believes there is no hope for his redemption, and his commitment to this belief prevents him from considering repentance, which is the ultimate cause of his eternal fate. In Raphael's story we see Abdiel repent of his rebellious spirit and return to God's service, so even if now that they've been in and out of Hell repentance would be a problem for Satan and the demons, their sinful decision to rebel and desire did not itself doom them.

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