In Paradise Lost… Generates mixed kind of feelings in you reading the lines, especially the speeches. Critics have always been interpreting and analysing him in their own way. Romantic poets went to the extent of idolizing him; for his love for liberty. His qualities of courage, persistence, and steadfastness have always claimed applause and appreciation.
So how do you percieve the dilemma of Satan? Is he a tragic figure, just as he has been compared to Macbeth in this regard, or is he simply suffering from Megalomania? Does he worth appreciation, standing aloof for Free Will, or he is nothing but a creeper, an exploiter, and a manipulator, who rose the seraphim to rebel to serve his own injured merit and who finally beguiled Eve to take his revenge and thus succeeded in bringing about Man’s first disobedience. Whats your take on it?
Note: We are here not concerend with the Islamic or even religious perspectives. Its only in context of the Paradise Lost, an epic written by the poet John Milton. The teachers/ students of English Literature can relate well to it.
That’s kind of technical; you may not get many replies.
I haven’t read the whole epic but I have read some excerpts from two books. Unfortunately, I don’t remember enough about his character or how the story unfolded. Nevertheless, from what I remember I do consider him an exploiter and a manipulator. Why? Because he knew that man’s disobedience would result in their fall from grace. Yet he told them –or was it only Eve?- that their actions should/would not bring them any harm.
Never mind anagnorisis. I was actually looking forward to a handful of discussion which could have taken place if we had current students or maybe a few teachers/ masters in the subject. We have had enough of the discussions in the classroom, yet that is one aspect of the picture. Just looked forward to exchanging of views here, since i believe the GS to be a cosmopolitan in itself
What i think of the satan’s role is ofcourse just as negative as you presume it to be, and maybe as many others would be. Yet, i was wondering and rather apprehending what if someone has better arguments than mine, since when you are in a classroom, you have to present the views in a diversified form so that your POV may not sound like being enforced upon the class :halo: Anyway, lets see any one may come across the thread who can bring their fruitful two sents
Only to remind you, it was Eve actually, according to PL, whom satan found and seduced in form of a serpent, and thus Eve was the firts to eat the fruit and insist upon Adam aswell
We are talking about PL :) Well even so, something that makes a character of satan is basically his speeches; especially the first five in Book one. The character looses its glaze and blaze then. Its said Milton himself lost interest in portraying Satan with the zeal and zest he started it. I tend to agree here.
GS is cosmopolitan but people are generally more interested in contemporary literature and don’t always look at things from a literary critic’s perspective. You can however try to change that. I’m sure there are some knowledgeable people around.
I do know the ABC of literature but my current pursuits have been rather different in nature. So I can try but may not be in a position to give better ideas. I suggest you save your time and energy by telling your students what our friend Dushwari said.. Satan is characterless. End of story.
Lol we are done with PL week back. I just wished to know if there are any fertile discussions may happen around but never mind. We are into Chaucer at present and since Chaucer is too sweet and anything but controversial, we are quite kicking :k:
so no one has even read the epic 
:halo:
