CHARACTERS

SATAN:
Although is manifestly absurd to suggest that Milton intended Satan to be the hero of Paradise Lost nevertheless the Satan of Books I and II possesses many recognisable characteristics of epic hero: leadership, initiative, a courage that refuses to accept defeat (Book I), a williness to undertake the desesperate enterpise of scaping from hell and attacking God through his new creation, man. Milton intented Satan-at least in the early books- to be the representative of the old heroic values wich were to be superseded by “the better fortitude of patience and heroic martyrdom” . Unfortunately for Milton, readers of Paradise Lost have recognised the Satanicqualities more readily than the Miltonic. Also tree other factors contributed to the result: in English, the word “hero” has a meaning of “central figure”; Milton was strong and fresh creatively when he characterised Satan; and he never succeded in producing a rival heroof similar stature but opposed ideals. Nevertheless, Book IV makes Milton´s attitude to Satan very clear; and this is one of the book´s values. Milton-and we- may admire the methods Satan adopts to achieve his aim; but the aim itself is unquestionably evil. Satan is what is called an antinomian:his courage, intelligence and determination are admirable; they are applied, however, in a cause that is not merely unworthy, but hateful. Satan homself is not blind to this; in the lines selected as the dedication of this volume, he turns his back upon good, regret and repentance and chooses the way of evli as offering the best hopoe of success.

From this moment on, when Satan shuts out pity for, Adam and Eve, and, filled with envy of their wedded bliss (Book IV,505),determines to corrupt their innocence to satisfy his lust for vengeance, Milton sets out to destroy any lingeringg admiration we may feel for him. Satan takes first, the form of a toad and whispers poison in Eve´s ear as she lies sleeping (Book IV,800) ;then in Book IX he enters the body of the serpent, “sublest beast of fall the field” (Book IX,86), and in this form

carries out his successful temptation of Eve, only to be punished by God (Book X, 514-17) by being made a serpent for ever. Milton changues Satan form a great war-leader into a successful, smooth-tongued and specious politician.

ADAM AND EVE:
So much of Paradise Lost is concerned with the superhuman that the characters of Adam and Eve are particular interest (an added value of the epic similes is thay they frequently bring the poem, quiet literarry, down to earth); but they too are no ordinary beings, surpassing all their descendants, though each in their different ways.

The superiorty of Eve over her daughters through time has been obscured by the fact that it is she who sins, and by Milton´s obvious bias in favour of the male partner in a marriage. Although he does not go so far as the medieval religious commentators who claimed that, had God intented woman to be man´s equal, she would have been taken from his head and not from his side.

Milton adaptts his biblical original to reinforce his point. In Genesis 3:12, Adam shows up as something of a tell-tale: “the woman...gave me of the tree, and Idid eat”. In Paradise Lost (Book IX, 820-5) Eve selfishly considers keeping the fruit of the tree of knowledge to herself, partly so that she may become a goddness, but partly also to secure dominion over Adam; she finally decides to share the fruit with him because she does not want to risk being killed, leaving Adam to some other woman.

Adam´s   motive in sinning, on the other hand, has its nobbler side; he is “ not deceived but fondly overcome with female charm” (Book IX, 989-9). He would rather risk death with his beloved Eve than be left alone in Paradise without her if she is destroyed by God in punishment. Satan recognises Adam as the stronger partner and a worthy opponent.
 
©York Notes . Paradise Lost .Books I-II and IV-IX. John Milton by Richard James Beck . Paradise Lost . Books I-II and IX-X  By R.E.C. Oxford University Press.