Role Of Satan In Paradise Lost

Introduction John Milton wrote an epic novel that forever changed the way people viewed the Satanic image. John Milton’s portrayal of Satan in Paradise Lost is a very dramatic image that has sounded throughout generations. The image Milton portrays of Satan is one of the antagonist of ancient tragedy who borders on the line of appearing to be a tragic hero. Milton also depicts him in anthropomorphic images instead of the grotesque images that were normally associated with the Satanic character. Other authors have responded to this unique image that Milton set before his audiences. One such author is C.S. Lewis who wrote a novel that appears to provide a corrective view of Milton’s Satan. Lewis wrote a novel entitled The Screwtape Letters. …show more content…
Satan had a long history of portrayal throughout literature. One of the greatest defeats of Satan comes in the form of the harrowing of hell. The harrowing of hell was the decent of Christ into hell to release the dead from their imprisonment. This was a very significant moment in theological history. It was the moment that Christ overcame what Adam did in the Garden of Eden and became the New Adam Himself. The harrowing of hell is most recognized from Dante’s Divine Comedy in Canto IV. In Dante’s novel, he is being led through the different circles of hell by Virgil. Virgil was not exposed to Christianity in his lifetime; therefore, he was stuck in Limbo with all the others like him, such as Homer and Ovid. Dante asks about the harrowing of hell, when Christ descended into hell. Virgil recounts his experience of this event to Dante. Vigil explains that the savior came down and took the Hebrew forefathers as well as Adam. However, he did not take anyone before that time period. Souls that had not heard of Christianity were not …show more content…
The Satanic School followed the belief that Satan was a hero and deserved to be depicted as such. Percy Shelley was a student of the Satanic School. This is most evident with Prometheus Unbound. Milton was also believed to have been a student of the Satanic School for Paradise Lost. However, Milton can also be said to have been a student of the Anti-Satanic School depending on how the epic is read. C. S. Lewis was a student of the Anti-Satanic School and believed that Satan should not be depicted as a hero in any way and should be seen in the grotesque manner. The Romanic period helped form the way people see Satan in literature today. Milton and C. S. Lewis with their respective novels are two main authors who were understood to help form this