The Role Of Satan In Paradise Lost Book 9 By John Milton

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Every great story has a villain; they serve a purpose, create a conflict, and in the end leave a message for the reader to learn from. Usually from the start, villains are straight to the point with their intentions, yet some villains often pose as a friend and someone that can be trusted in order to spread their hate towards others for their own benefit. The villains that hide who they really are typically make for some of the most captivating stories and some of the greatest lessons for life. One of the oldest known villains in the history of writings is Satan and he is no different in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost: Book 9”. Satan is most known for being a deceiver, leading people astray, and causing sin in the lives of others. Baring a similar attitude towards authority and the want for power, Goneril in William Shakespeare’s King Lear is a unique character that relates to Satan in the ways that she deceives people to gain further control of what she desires. Although not having the history that Satan has, Goneril posses some similar characteristics as Satan, from fooling those that trust her to destroying someone for her own benefit.

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