Lecture notes
'Paradise Lost Book 9' Analysis on Satan Lines 48 to 98
Analysis on Milton's character of Satan lines 48-98 in book 9, his soliloquy and introduction in the book.
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‘Paradise Lost Books 9 & 10’ by John MiltonLines 49 – 98
1. Satan’s actions
Satan was banished from heaven, seeking a way to enter Earth without being caught. Satan
returns, infiltrating by disguising as mist, and then a serpent. Satan also reminisces on the
beauty of Earth, imaging what might’ve been, but laments how he cannot take joy in the cre-
ation with Adam and Eve’s happiness tormenting him. He declares his passion for revenge,
determined to destroy mankind. Satan had lost everything except hate.
2. Satan’s motives
Satan has a plan to ruin humanity for revenge against God and due to his resent for God’s
love for us. Satan relentlessly pursues this goal, searching all over the earth for a way in. Sa-
tan is so consumed by revenge, with every action he takes fired by his hatefulness.
3. Satan’s decisions
Satan is intelligent and cunning. He carefully plans in order to his plan to go accordingly.
Sneaking in as mist, after being caught a number of times already, and disguising himself as a
serpent - one of God’s creations - he proves that he will go to no end when attaining his
vengeance. He defies the Chain of Being by taking the form of a snake, lower than a human
being. He purposefully degrades God’s creations. Thus, his recklessness in some of his ac-
tions portrays how his motives of revenge can blur his decisions and cause him to take very
rash choices. Satan is unafraid to go against God as he truly hates Him. He wants to cause
God pain by destroying His creation and beloved humans.
4. Satan’s feelings
Satan is fuelled by anguish and hate. This caused his previously holy nature to be completely
transformed, creating evil, darkness and sin. His perseverance in revenge show his complete
resent towards God. Yet, he also laments due to his wondering of what could’ve been if the
events prior happened otherwise. But, since he is unable to change it, Adam and Eve’s happi-
ness and comfortability torment him. He decides that through hurting humanity, he hurts
God. Satan’s convoluted emotions and tragic story has resulted into his manifestation of evil.
5. What are the motifs and imagery associated with Satan in these lines?
“he rode With darkness” (lines 64 — 64): darkness is personified resembling Satan’s energy
and his power for it to act on its own accord. Darkness also connotes with evil, fearing the
day thus fearing God.
“Satan involved in rising Mist” (line 75): hides in mist, meaning Satan is cunning and decep-
tive.
“The Serpent subtlest Beast of all the Field” (line 86): Description of the serpent taken from
Genesis 3:1, Milton constantly references Biblical texts proving almost as evidence and sup-
port, as well as maintaining the relationship with God and involving the original text. The
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