Arguments Against Satan's Punishment

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Satan states, “So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, / Farewell remorse: all Good to me is lost; / Evil be thou my good…” (Paradise Lost 4: 108-110). This shows Satan’s understanding of being the criminal; he becomes self-aware of his action being corrupt. Even though he wants to continue his rebellion, he understands that his actions were not justified. So, Satan has a brief moment of relapse, where he feels that maybe God could forgive him. This also points to, the fact that Satan does have free choice. When arguing that Satan acts on his own free will, it is necessary to see what God says about his creations. In Book 3, God says, “…I made him just and right; / Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.” (Paradise Lost …show more content…

It is important to notice that Satan is punished twice in this story for his actions regarding his rebellion and his part in the fall of mankind. Satan’s first punishment is being banished to Hell, which is described as, “…A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, / As one great furnace flam’d: yet from those flames / No light, but rather darkness visible…” (Paradise Lost 1: 61-63). God, then punishes Satan a second time by turning him into a “…Huge Python…” (Paradise Lost 10: 531). The second punishment is given to Satan because of his tempting of Eve. Although, it’s something that God allows to happen, shown where it reads: “…for what can scape the eye / Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart / Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, / Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind / Of man…” (Paradise Lost 10: …show more content…

Compared to the other characters, Satan is the most sympathetic to me because I can relate with his emotions. I pity and fear for Satan because I can connect with the character as the tragedy goes on. So, when Satan pities himself, like in the last lines of the quote previously used: “…Though in mid heaven, soon ended his delight, / And tortures him now more, the more he sees / Of pleasure not for him ordain’d; then soon / Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts / Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites.” (Paradise Lost 9: 468-472). Most readers feel pity for him because of the human connection that they have. This is the trait that allows Satan to be a tragic hero for most people that read Paradise Lost. It is the hints to Satan’s inner feelings that allow catharsis to be produced in all

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