Villains' Emotional Pull - Milton's Paradise Lost

Why are audiences intrigued with the villain? The answer can be found in the character traits and behaviors of the villain in Milton's Paradise Lost. Satan is the intriguing villain that has fallen from heaven to hell and has pulled one third of all of the angels with him to hell where they will dwell for all eternity. The audience finds the character of Satan engaging because of his defiance, perversity, and enormous determination.

Satan's open defiance engages the audience because the audience has morals and values which Satan steps on and pushes aside. For instance, this can be seen when Satan tells the mass of fallen angels, "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven" (Milton 254). Stating this we can see that Satan doesn't care about openly defying God. This brings the audience's imagination to life; the audience can now imagine more dark and difficult things that Satan can or is willing to do. In addition, when the narrator is opening the story of the fallen angels he recounts the deeds of Satan, "He trusted to have equaled the Most High, if he opposed; and with ambitious aim against the throne and monarchy of God" (40-45). In Satan's past we see that already he will do what is out of the norm to get what he wants. In this instance he wanted to be greater than God. When this did not happen and he knew that it was not possible, he continued on this path despite God. The audience is pulled in to the Satan's ability to commit more and more acts of evil, which create a shock and awe factor which keeps the audience entranced with the story.

Satan's perversity entices the imagination of the readers by continuing to go against what is good and right in the eyes of most of humanity. For example, when Satan is talking to the fallen angels he says, "To do aught good never will be our task, but ever to do ill our sole delight as to be contrary to his high will" (159-61). Satan's distaste for good can boggle the mind and in doing so create a lasting interest in his character, "a what will he do next" thought process in the audience that can shows the depth of his determination. In addition, when Satan is addressing the fallen angels he states, "Where joy forever dwells. Hail horrors! Hail infernal world! And thou, profoundest hell receive thy new possessor..." (250-53). This chant reveals Satan's undying desire to be perverse and counter every act of good with evil and in doing so makes the audience identify with Satan. This makes the reader wonder " how much more perverse can he get?" As a result the audiences interest grows, as the character becomes more vivid and real.

Satan's enormous determination captures the imagination of the audience furthering their understanding and entanglement in the character's story. This is demonstrated, when Satan is communicating his plan for all of hell to the demons, "We shall be free; the almighty hath not built here for his envy, will not drive us hence: here we may rain secure, and in my choice" (259-61). In those few lines Satan captures the imagination of the audience and draws a very clear picture that he demands others to see things his way, which is against God. The statement " we shall be free" shows his determination to overthrow his creator. The audience may find it fascinating and shocking at the same time. As a result of his resolve, the audience becomes more enthused with his intriguing character and behaviors

In conclusions Satan's open defiance, consistent perversity and enormous determination bring the audience's attention and understanding of Satan to life and enthusiastically engages the imagination of the audience. With the haunting words of Satan from the beginning to the end we can see that the characters such as Milton's Satan connect with the audience on a personal and heart felt level because Satan has a lot of the very same attributes as some of the very people love.

Satan draws a stark contrast between good and evil that had not existed before. In so doing, Satan created an understanding of good that was incomprehensible without evil. One serves to illustrate the other.

Work Cited

Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Timeless Voices Timeless Themes. Prentice Hall Literature. Kate Kinsella. Kevin Feldman. Colleen Shea Stump. Joyce Armstrong Carroll. Edward E. Wilson. N.J. Prentice Hall Ink. 2002.