The Benevolent Reign of King Satan /// Bug Olsen

While we do not typically associate demons with having any redeeming qualities, Milton interestingly presents the fallen angels in a somewhat sympathetic light in the first two books. Lines 605-607 of Book 1 actually show that Satan had “signs of remorse and passion to behold/ the fellows of his crime, the followers rather,/… condemned”, which seems extremely out of character for him. This theme also continues into Book 2 in a broader sense, as it shows that “for the general safety [Satan] despised/ his own: for neither do the Spirits damned/ lose all their virtue” (lines 481-483), showing how not only Satan but also his followers still had good qualities about them. Throughout these books, Satan actually shows characteristics of a good king by putting his subjects’ safety before his own and using a council rather than a dictatorship to make decisions, showing how he actually cares about their best interests (even though these interests are still evil and twisted). Milton also uses multiple examples of a monarch when describing Satan, which may be commenting on the state of the English government at the time it was written. Connecting Satan and demons with a King and his court could easily tie into the royal court in the real world, and portraying these demons with more human characteristics makes the comparison even more believable. The fact that these demons still have virtues is also important because it makes their suffering in hell even more painful, since they still have some understanding of the depravity of their situation and do not enjoy their punishment whatsoever. If they were completely without morals or feelings, the suffering they endure would not have as much significance and would make them less entertaining protagonists for the first two books. When applying this to our own lives, it also comments on how even the worst people in the world still have some good in them, though unlike the demons humans have the ability to turn from their evil ways and return to God. 

    Presenting this story from the view of the demons also reminded me of The Screwtape Letters, since both focus on the demons’ work on earth in interfering with God’s plan and causing as much chaos and havoc as possible. Seeing things from this point of view also helps the reader see the spiritual realm in a new light, although in this case I do not believe that Satan felt any remorse or care for what he did and thus is not the most profitable for teaching. I believe this is a way to present the story in a much more accessible way to readers, and is certainly not meant to be taken as Milton’s own views on creation and the fall.


I commented on Emily Thullesen's and Justin Johnson's posts. 

            

Comments

  1. Justin JSeptember 6, 2021 at 11:18 PM

    The humanization of Satan and his cohorts does indeed make their suffering and the length of their fall much more emotionally impactful. I think it also serves to emphasize the messages Milton is trying to share in his story. When we can see our own human nature in the fallen angels we are reminded of how fallen we humans are by nature, and are invited therefore to learn from the mistakes of these villains who once had seen the light and yet fell so far.
    I also really like that you brought up The Screwtape Letters. It's not a connection that I thought pf but that's a really good observation. Both works serve to present a more human yet still ultimately depraved view of demonic powers in order to teach humans how better to avoid their mistakes and the traps that they may lay for us (or that we may lay for ourselves)

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  2. Samantha TSeptember 6, 2021 at 11:19 PM

    Bug, I really enjoy your insight. I didn't notice myself these seemingly redeeming qualities given to Satan, but rather saw him still as his old manipulative self even in his supposed care for the other demons. I am interested to read what you think of the rest of the poem!

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  3. Emma Kate PattersonSeptember 12, 2021 at 10:45 AM

    I like that you pointed out that Milton shows the fallen angels in a sympathetic light. I think this will be an important and reoccurring theme throughout the book. I also like that you pointed out that the demons still have virtues. I think this is interesting because of how we view the Satan and demons. I think throughout the book Milton will show us a different viewpoint of Satan and the demons that we have never thought of before.

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