Satan, the main character of John Milton's "Paradise Lost," delivers several speeches throughout the epic poem. Satan's speeches are significant in shaping the narrative and readers' understanding of important themes and ideas. His speeches in Book 1 are particularly striking and demonstrate his character, beliefs, and motivations.
Firstly, Satan’s speeches in book one reveal his use of persuasive language. In his grand speech, Satan seeks to convince the other fallen angels to follow him in his revolt against God. His persuasive language is evident in his sophisticated use of rhetorical devices, metaphors, and imagery. e.g. In line 239, Satan speaks of his fall from grace using the metaphor, "The infernal serpent; he it was, whose guile, stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived the mother of mankind." Here, Satan paints himself as a tragic hero, a victim of God's wrath, and as someone who has suffered in the same way as the fallen angels.
At the opening of Book 1, Satan, a desolate figure, lying in a fiery lake, emerges from the chaos of hell along with his fellow fallen angels, who, too, are disoriented and lost after their defeat in the war against heaven. In this speech, Satan expresses his anger and resentment towards God, blaming him for their fall from grace. He calls God a "tyrant" who "compelled" them to rebel against him and justifies his actions. In his first speech, Satan declares his intentions to continue the fight against God. He states, “What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome?” This speech highlights Satan’s resilience and determination to fight until he achieves his goal.
With his second speech, Satan sweeps off all doubts from the minds of the readers: "To be weak is miserable, doing or suffering." If God attempts to turn evil into good, it must be the sacred duty of the fallen angels to foil his attempts and turn all good to evil. He believes that God has now withdrawn all his forces and is in a confounded state. They should not let this opportunity slip. It is imperative that all of them should assemble and consult how they may hereafter most offend their enemy, best repair their own loss. The audacity and superb self-confidence of Satan are well brought out in these words.
Satan then proceeds to explain the reasons for his rebellion against God in his third speech. He questions God’s authority to rule and why he created humans as inferior beings. Satan argues that he and his fellow angels are as powerful as God and should, therefore, have the same status as him. He says, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. What matter where, if I be still the same, and what I should be, all but less than he whom thunder hath made greater?” In this quote, Satan asserts his belief in his own power and worth, arguing that his mind is just as great as that of God, and that he can create his own paradise.
Satan also expresses bitterness towards humans, whom he sees as unworthy of his service. He argues that humans are corrupt and weak, “Was this the region, this the soil, the clime, said then the lost Archangel, this the seat that we must change for Heaven, this mournful gloom for that celestial light?” Satan sees the creation of humans as a mistake and seeks to take revenge on them by leading them away from God.
In his fourth speech, he addresses other angels, with a resounding voice. He directly touches their ego by calling them, "Princes, Potentates, Warriors, the Flower of Heaven." He asks them whether they are sleeping thus on account of physical exhaustion or in despair. He exhorts them to "wake, arise or be forever fallen." Initially, Satan sarcastically addresses his fallen angels and then he tries to revive their detached spirits. His speech is so commanding and fiery that his followers are roused out of their stupor.
Satan choked with indignation and tears, begins his fifth speech, and like a politician he indulges in rhetoric. Without distorting facts he turns them to a different light and gives his defeated host a margin of hope. Throughout, Satan resolves "to wage by force or guile eternal war." Later he places an alternative before the infernal council "op'n war or covert guile." Satan is determined to combat with God to save his own pride. Satan makes a warlike speech full of contradictions and absurdities when examined closely but admirable and impressive on the face of it ending with an appeal to continue conflict: "War then war/
Open or understood must be resolv'd."
In conclusion, Satan's speeches in book 1 of "Paradise Lost" provide a fascinating insight into the character's motivations, desires, and his understanding of human nature. Through his words, Milton portrays Satan as a charismatic leader and a master manipulator who seeks power and independence at any cost. He is a figure of literary interest, characterized by his pride, intelligence, and determination to defy God’s rule. On the whole, Satan's speeches in "Paradise Lost" are crucial in shaping the narrative and conveying important themes and ideas. These speeches not only add depth and complexity to the character of Satan but also provide insight into Milton's philosophical and theological beliefs.