No Sympathy for the Devil // Emma Landry

   It is very interesting to see Satan, an instigator of evil, painted as a nearly sympathetic character in Paradise Lost. While Satan emphasizes that he absolutely does not regret his actions that led to the fall from heaven, there are some lines in Book 1 that show his tough and resolute facade falling a bit. "So spake th' Apostate Angel though in pain, vaunting aloud but racked with deep despair" (1. 125-126). He experiences the painful consequences of his sins just as we do. I was shocked to see the ruthless Satan burst into tears in line 620, showing unexpected emotion that (to my knowledge) is not preceded in the Bible. Also, though he is certainly not rallying those in the lake of fire to a valiant cause, his pep talk urging them to pick themselves up instead of languishing in pain seems strangely inspiration. His motivating leadership skills make him seem almost admirable. However, the key word is ALMOST. It should become quickly evident to even readers without prior knowledge of Christianity that Satan uses appearances of concern and even encouragement to manipulate situations, always in order to benefit himself.  

     There are two major moments I noticed in which Satan masterfully crafts an image of a savior figure, deceiving his followers into believing him to be loving and good. First, he quickly positions himself as the ruler of Hell. This is ironic because, in trying to be everything God is not, Satan chooses to be a king-like leader. It does not make sense that the angels rebelled against Heaven only to go to another place to serve a king. Satan is tricking them into bondage to him, taking them away from the freedom they could have had in seeking what is holy and pleasing to God. While God gave them rule and duties in Heaven, these fallen angels have now become subjects. It is sad that they fail to recognize that Hell is true entrapment, not freedom. They will never be satisfied in their rebellion. He strategically chooses his wording to make his assumption of the wicked throne appear as a sacrifice, albeit one lacking love or compassion. It is a pale comparison of a "sacrifice" to the true giving of Jesus performs down the line of His whole self. "But who here will envy whom the highest place exposes foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim, your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share of endless pain?" (2.26-30) He falsely guides them to the conclusion that they have elected him through free will, even though he offers himself as the only leader and simply asks if everyone agrees. (It is likely that some were too frightened by his prominence to go against his wishes.) Additionally, his proclamation of the drawbacks of leading is a clear tactic to prevent anyone from standing in his way to become the godlike figure he pridefully aspires to be. The second moment of Satan's cunning wordplay that serves only to further his ambitions for power and control comes when he "graciously" offers himself to travel to the new world. He not-so-humbly emphasizes his perception of himself as a fabulous ruler by announcing that he does not think himself beneath the mission and is willing to get his own hands dirty. He also insists that he will take this journey alone, creating the appearance of concern for the safety of his minions while he really only wants to avoid any interference with his plans. He seizes upon the control that is being relinquished to him by stressing that there will be no more discussion of the matter. The lines below indicate the next major tactic Satan is beginning to use in his efforts to bring glory to himself and himself only: fear. "But they dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice forbidding, and at once with him they rose" (2. 473-475)

 I commented on Raygan Boster's and Hailey Walsh's posts.