Question: Trace Renaissance qualities in the character of Satan as depicted in Paradise Lost, Book I.
Or, Show Satan as a Renaissance hero.
Answer: The Renaissance was an intellectual, moral and cultural movement which marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern world. It freed man's mind from the slavery of the monastic ideals, asserted the supremacy of reason and inspired him to take an aesthetic delight in the beauties of the world and the pleasures of the senses. It was further characterised by the spirit of adventure, love for beauty, moral earnestness, a love for richness and magnificence, power and pelf, etc. Satan stands as the most dominant and powerful figure of the Renaissance in Book-I of Paradise Lost. He exists most abidingly in our minds after we have. finished reading The Book. The character of Satan may be estimated as the sum total of stubborn pride and sensual indulgences, finding in self the sole motive of action. It is a Machiavellian Renaissance Character which is often found on the political platform.
The character of Satan is glorified at the expense of God and it is due to the influence of the Renaissance love for dangerous adventures and enterprises. Spenser's 'The Faerie Queene' has Knight of the Red Cross. Similarly, Satan is a knight of Stygian Darkness and has all the attributes of knightliness which gleamed in the romances and epics of the Renaissance. Thus in the presentation of Satan's character, Milton is animated with the Renaissance love for romance, chivalry and adventure as in the following lines spoken by Satan:
"To reign is worth ambition though in Hell
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."
Satan's heroic leadership which is characteristic of the Renaissance may be traced in his initiative, rebellions and cunning, possessed by almost all the mighty conquers of the world. These great men, as we know from history must have acted from some great motive. Milton has in a grand manner infused in Satan the element of intense selfishness and pride, the alcohol of egotism. For this egotism, Satan would rather reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. To infuse this lust of self in opposition to the denial of self or denial of duty, and to show what enterprise it could take and what pain it could endure achieving its goal, is Milton's main objective in the portrayal of Satan: 2006
Revolt against the spiritual authority or the administration of the church was one of the main causes behind the Renaissance. Similarly, Satan is also a rebel against the monarchy of God. This is clearly indicated when he declares before the assembly of the fallen angels, his firm determination to wage a war, open or secret, against the Almighty:
".......Peace is despaired
For who can think submission? War then war
Open or understood, must be resolved."
Using classical models in English poetry was a fashion of the Renaissance. Milton also, after the classical model uses extensively epic similes to draw the physical stature of Satan. To draw the gigantic figure of Satan the poet describes the objects he cares about. The Shield and the spear he carries have been respectively compared to the moon and the mast of a flagship. Again his comparison to the largest sea monster Leviathan or to a proud tower and later on to the Sun dimmed behind the mist on the horizon is simply remarkable. Satan, as we find, has not yet lost all the original brightness of an angel in Heaven, for he may still be compared to the Sun and the Moon. Although some of his glory has been lost, he still appears like Sun seen through morning mist or like the Moon in eclipse. So he has still some kind of majesty and grandeur.
On the moral or intellectual level also Satan appears as a great Renaissance political leader, endowed with indomitable courage, obdurate pride, implacable hatred, endurance of suffering, and longing for revenge. His indomitable will and his undying spirit of revenge may be traced in the following lines spoken by him to Beelzebub:
"Fallen cherub, to be weak is miserable,
Doing or suffering: but of this be sure,
To do aught good never will be our task."
His third speech reveals yet another characteristic of his personality his stoicism and indifference to pleasure and pain:
"Farewell, happy fields
Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors hail,
Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell,
Receive thy new possessor, one who brings
A mind not to be changed by place or time."
Thus Satan's skill as a great Renaissance leader and orator is proved time and again in his different speeches delivered by him to rouse his comrades from the condition of torpor and despondency.
Summing up our discussion we can say that Satan's character in Book I of Paradise Lost is essentially evil but it is undoubtedly a powerful Renaissance character which indirectly reflects Milton's own heroic energy. Satan is the prototype of eternal evil, a Machiavellian Renaissance hero who will continue to fight for the good. We can not but marvel at his indomitable will, stubborn pride, courage and fortitude in adversity, and organising capacity as the leader of the fallen angels.
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