In the words of, Michelle Syba, the reader who searches for a hero in Paradise Lost, “searches for what Milton never intended,” (615). Nonetheless, the attributes of the typical hero remain in the character of Satan, even if it was unintentional. Satan, infamous since the day he was kicked out of Heaven for fighting against God’s will, is portrayed in a way that produces sympathy from the reader like a typical hero. More specifically Satan can be categorized as a Machiavellian hero. The overall factors that contribute to the idea that Satan is a hero, and more specifically, a Machiavellian hero, in this story include his desire to achieve his goals of a dominant figure by any means possible, the story is told from his point of view, the reader is inclined to sympathize with Satan, and the entire plot is determined by his interactions with God and humans.
Many readers and critics agree, that the “devil needs to be given his due” and recognize the “validity of his title as hero.” As a Machiavellian hero, Satan’s hero status is not based his “heroic virtue,” but rather his boldness and stout-heartedness (Steadman 253). Satan shows no remorse for desiring to control everything that he can. His “uncontrollable will”, is believed by Keçeci to “never submit or yield,” (1. 105). Paired with his irrepressible …show more content…
Because Satan is telling the story, God, seems as though He evil for sending him to a place that smelled of sulfur and had no light, only visible darkness. But, it is Satan’s fault that he is kicked out of Heaven because he has let his yearnings become, “ungoverned” (91). Satan’s pride and craving for power outweighed his desire to live in comfort. His comfort would come at the price of being subservient to the God who made everything in existence. But, he would rather be the ruler of Hell, the most miserable place imaginable, than be subservient to the being who created
Many readers and critics agree, that the “devil needs to be given his due” and recognize the “validity of his title as hero.” As a Machiavellian hero, Satan’s hero status is not based his “heroic virtue,” but rather his boldness and stout-heartedness (Steadman 253). Satan shows no remorse for desiring to control everything that he can. His “uncontrollable will”, is believed by Keçeci to “never submit or yield,” (1. 105). Paired with his irrepressible …show more content…
Because Satan is telling the story, God, seems as though He evil for sending him to a place that smelled of sulfur and had no light, only visible darkness. But, it is Satan’s fault that he is kicked out of Heaven because he has let his yearnings become, “ungoverned” (91). Satan’s pride and craving for power outweighed his desire to live in comfort. His comfort would come at the price of being subservient to the God who made everything in existence. But, he would rather be the ruler of Hell, the most miserable place imaginable, than be subservient to the being who created