Character sketch of Satan (Paradise Lost Book-1)

         In Book I of Paradise Lost, John Milton presents Satan as a powerful, courageous, determined, and intelligent leader. Although Satan is a villain and rebels against God, Milton gives him many qualities that are normally associated with a great leader. Satan has lost the war against God and has been thrown into Hell, but he does not lose hope. Instead, he encourages his followers and prepares them for another struggle. His speeches show his confidence, courage, ambition, and ability to influence others.

From the beginning of Book I, Satan speaks with great confidence. He has been defeated, but he does not behave like a defeated person. He does not cry or surrender. Instead, he tells his followers that their situation can still be changed. He says: “What though the field be lost? / All is not lost; the unconquerable will…” Satan means that although they have lost the battle, everything is not lost. They still have their will, courage, and determination.  This shows that Satan is a leader who does not give up easily.

One of Satan's most important qualities is his strong determination. He has lost Heaven, his position, and his comfort, but he refuses to accept defeat. He believes that as long as he has the courage to fight, he can continue his struggle against God. This quality is expressed in the famous line: “All is not lost; the unconquerable will…” This makes him appear strong and courageous, even though his purpose is evil.

Satan is a powerful speaker. He knows how to encourage his followers when they are frightened and disappointed. The fallen angels are lying helplessly in Hell after their defeat. They have lost their former glory. Satan speaks to them and gives them new courage. He makes them believe that they can still do something against God. He does not allow his followers to remain sad or hopeless. He gives them a reason to continue fighting. This is one of his strongest leadership qualities.

Satan behaves like a military commander. He understands that his army has been defeated, but he does not simply sit and complain. He begins to think about what they should do next. He gathers the fallen angels and discusses their future plans. He wants to know: What should they do now? How can they fight against God? How can they recover their lost position? How can they take revenge? This makes him look like a strong military leader.

Satan is extremely ambitious. He does not want to accept a lower position after losing Heaven. He wants power and independence. His famous statement expresses his attitude: “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.” This shows his enormous pride and desire for power. His ambition is one of the main reasons for his rebellion against God. Satan is also presented as a courageous and fearless character. He knows that God is more powerful than he is, yet he refuses to surrender. He is willing to face difficulties and continue his struggle. His courage is particularly visible when he stands up after his defeat and addresses his followers. His courage itself is not necessarily a good quality because he uses it for an evil purpose. Milton shows that a person can possess courage but still use it wrongly.

A great leader needs the ability to influence people, and Satan possesses this quality. He understands the feelings of his followers. He knows that they are disappointed after their defeat, so he speaks to them in a way that gives them confidence. He makes them believe that they are still powerful. He also uses flattery, persuasion, and propaganda to influence others. Satan knows how to control people's minds through his words. This quality later becomes important when he deceives Eve.

Satan presents himself as one of the fallen angels rather than simply as their superior. He speaks about their common suffering. He has suffered the same defeat as his followers, so he uses this common experience to create unity among them. “We have suffered together, and we will fight together.” This helps him maintain his position as their leader.

            He is a clever politician. He always seems to have an answer to difficult situations. When his followers are discouraged, he gives them reasons to remain hopeful. He knows how to persuade people, give convincing speeches, hide weakness, increase confidence, encourage his followers, present himself as strong, and manipulate others. Therefore, Satan possesses many qualities of a successful political leader, although he uses these qualities for evil purposes.

 Satan can appear heroic from a literary point of view, even though he is morally evil. William Blake makes an important observation about Milton. Blake says: “Milton was of the Devil's party without knowing it.” Blake believes that Milton unintentionally made Satan appear attractive and powerful. Satan's courage, energy, speeches, and determination can make readers admire him, even though he is the villain. This is why Satan became one of the most controversial characters in English literature. Is Satan really a hero? We should be careful here. Satan has heroic qualities, but he is not a moral hero. He has courage, determination, leadership, and intelligence, but he uses these qualities for evil purposes. Satan has the qualities of a hero but the purpose of a villain. This is one of the reasons why his character is so fascinating.

In Book I of Paradise Lost, Milton gives Satan a heroic and impressive appearance. He is a courageous leader, a powerful speaker, a brave general, an ambitious rebel, and a determined commander. Even after suffering a terrible defeat, he refuses to surrender. However, his qualities are used for an evil purpose. His courage becomes rebellion, his confidence becomes pride, and his leadership becomes a means of spreading evil. Thus, Satan can be called a heroic-looking villain rather than a true moral hero. Milton's skill lies in creating a character whom readers may admire for his courage and determination while simultaneously recognizing the evil of his actions.