Paradise Lost is an outstanding work of world literature, one of the few existing bright examples of the literary epic, an extremely diverse creation in its content and at the same time extremely complex. and contradictory, causing controversy and discussion among readers. Since the plot of Paradise Lost is based on biblical legends, the poem has been classified among the books considered to be a poetic and artistic interpretation of the Bible. It is known that John Milton was a believer and a knower of the Bible, but we should also not forget that he interpreted and revealed the essence of biblical texts in his own way. The poet did not completely modify the legends, he only completed them. Paradise Lost, in this regard, is the best example. But Paradise Lost not only deviates from Church doctrine, but sometimes comes into direct conflict with it. And the most memorable character in this poem, as well as its driving force, is Satan. Lucifer himself is not a classic character from an epic poem. But Milton managed to make his image so ambiguous and requiring analysis. This essay will examine the tragic part of Satan's image that so appeals to readers and how this humanity played a role in his journey from one of God's archangels to the most famous lord of darkness. Even today, literary scholars discuss this supposed Satan and the nature of his actions, because the real Bible describes him as unambiguously evil, but Milton does not. Carey (Carey, 1999, p. 163) noted that Satan's inner debate and self-criticism reveal him as a creature of dynamic tensions, the likes of which the other characters in the poem notably lack. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay After one of God's angels, Lucifer, rebelled against his Father, he was exiled to Hell along with the other fallen angels who joined him. for his disobedience. Now Satan, who, thanks to his rebellious character and great vanity, became the main commander of the army and the ruler of Hell, has awakened and is ready to rise again to deal a new blow. His plan is to corrupt God’s new creation – the first people – Adam and Eve. Despite the fact that Satan in biblical legends personifies absolute evil, in Paradise Lost he is a more complex and multifaceted character, whose point of view seems quite convincing. Once exalted by the Romantics, Milton's Satan is still considered a "gift" by many. Milton depicts Satan as a character who wants to sympathize at the beginning of the poem. And the truth: an angel who was not free to express his independent opinion and who loved God and the angels too much, whose power and authority he considered the only ones faithful and worthy of respect and worship. However, these parts of his inner world can be transferred to another plane: the desire for independence, which led to a split in the heavenly sky, pride in his divine origin, which he considered a higher power and s bow before the “inferior deities”. '(the first people) didn't see the point. As one of the highest archangels in heaven, Satan feels he deserves more and does not see the power of other beings more powerful than himself and his ilk. And this sense of pride leads to his downfall. Milton argues that no one is more powerful than God and therefore no one should question God's actions. But that is exactly what Satan does. And while his jealousy of God's new "children" and his desire for independence are understandable, readersmay find that their reaction is agitated, unfounded and perhaps even premature. Carey (Carey, 1999, p. 166) in his chapter calls Satan a "creature of mood", and he believes that Satan's character is given more depth by his hesitant, dormant and deceptive ability to apprehend reality through the prism of self-deception. and forgetting. Milton also tries to show Satan when he doubts the righteousness of his actions, which makes him more than a common, standard villain. However, as the epic continues, his logic weakens and Lucifer unconditionally obeys his evil intentions, hatching a plan to seduce people into falling into his sense of existence, which ultimately brings him out of the straight path. Milton may have chosen to describe Satan in this way that would attract readers' attention and justify God's actions. However, Satan's vengeance cannot be fully justified or condemned. In fact, God gave free will to creatures so that they could make their own choices, but that only concerned the human race. The angels, although they could also express themselves openly, but their will and intentions should not have gone against what God ordained. Somehow free will was removed and God's free will was fulfilled. And from Satan's act it is clear that even if he used the right to choose what to believe and what to support, for God everything was already known, and Lucifer's revenge would have been useless. God speaks to his Son with these words in book 3: “[Satan] seems so bent/on a desperate vengeance that will fall/on his own rebellious head” (Milton, 2001, p. 47). As Saunders (Saunders, 1966, p. 95-96) noted, he clearly sees the difference between good and evil. But he stumbles and chooses to follow evil, submitting to pride and an abnormally tyrannical will. He degrades himself – he involves innocence in his degradation, abuses his gifted nature and heroic abilities and, above all, he is clearly aware of what he is doing. Satan could have taken the more harmless route and repented and asked the Father for forgiveness and in return his place in heaven, but the Fallen Angel, in fact, gave free rein to his feelings. Deciding that God's judgment was unjust, he decided to hurt both God and his creatures. Satan's words of retribution are notable in book 9: “Revenge, though sweet at first/Bitter, eventually returns upon itself” (Milton, 2001, p. 163). It can even be considered a turning point in Satan's vengeful journey when he can realize the consequences of his act and continue his exile. Satan was very clear in defining his goal, namely revenge against God and Heaven, and the unrealized concept itself gave him pleasure and a sense of anticipation of victory. But in saying these words, we sense his humility and his acceptance of the consequences of his decision, which led him to nothing good. Here, Satan opposes the “sweetness” of vengeance to another, more unpleasant taste: “bitterness.” Furthermore, Urban states that his attempts to present himself as a victim of God are revealed as fallacious by Satan's own words when he comes to Earth to tempt Adam and Eve. Here, the only Satan, with no disciples to impress, experiences misery amidst the beauty of the Earth. As his conscience reminds him of his lost glory, Satan recognizes the perpetual hell within him. He seems to admit that his revenge was ultimately in vain and that his goal will ultimately backfire. The power of Satan Milton lies precisely in the fact that he, for all his titanity, is human. Human traits such as pride, disobedience, self-esteem, thirst..