Walker 1 The Evil Satan through the Lens of the Tenure of Kings and Magistrates The question of how evil John Milton s Satan is, from his poem Paradise Lost, is one that is still arguable today. Some categorize him as evil because his intentions are to bring pain and havoc into the world. Others view Satan as an anti-hero because, even though he is flawed, he is described as fighting against the tyrant of God. However, by viewing Paradise Lost through the lens of Milton s Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, it can be seen that Satan really is the evil figure of the poem. There are different ideas from the Tenure of Kings and Magistrates that give the idea that Satan is evil. The first idea is Milton s definition of what a tyrant is. Milton s definition of a tyrant doesn t fit why Satan thinks God is a tyrant or why Satan rises up against God. Satan is not rising up against God for the justifiable reasons that Milton says but for his own selfish purposes. The way Satan goes against God also points to him being evil. Milton s description of a tyrant sounds more like Satan than it does of God. By analyzing these different aspects and ideas, it can be proven that Satan is the evil figure and tyrant of Paradise Lost. An analysis of Milton s definition and description of a tyrant from The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates and how it compares to God and Satan is the backdrop for why Satan is the evil figure. It gives an idea on what characteristics a tyrant has that it appears Satan has as well. A tyrant, whether by wrong or by right coming to the crown, is he who, regarding neither law nor the common good, reigns only for himself and his faction (TOKAM 760). Milton describes a tyrant as a selfish creature, ruling only for himself and his group. A tyrant does not care about the larger body of people but only the small percentage that follow him. Milton also compares a tyrant to some one who knowingly allows destruction to come on innocent people and those who follow him.
Walker 2 This facet of a tyrant is also important in determining how evil Satan is. Milton states a tyrant is the hire of those whom he had solicited to come in and destroy whole cities (TOKAM 754). When these ideas are compared to the descriptions of God and Satan, it becomes evident that Satan is the truly evil figure. Even though Satan calls God a tyrant it becomes obvious that not only is God not Milton s definition of a tyrant, and therefore Satan had no right to rise up against him. Also, Satan s reasons for rising up against God are flawed as well. One of the arguments that Satan uses for his dissenting against God is that God is a tyrant ruling over the heavens, Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav n. So spake th Apostate Angel (Paradise Lost I. 1223-1224). Satan equates the reining power in heaven to a tyranny because God is sole being in power. Satan seems to be saying that because God did not let anyone else have power that equaled his or allowed anyone else to rein with the same amount of power God was a tyrant. For Milton, that is not what makes a tyrant. By accusing God of being a tyrant because he had sole authority in heaven Satan comes across as selfish and power hungry, aspiring to set himself in Glory above his peers, he trusted to have equall d the most High (Paradise Lost I. 37-39). He wants the same kind of power that God has, not to be free from a tyrant. It is this selfishness that leads to Satan being seen as an evil tyrant. Milton depicts Satan as this charismatic, well-spoken, intelligent leader of who he calls Rebel Angels (Paradise Lost I. 35). Satan is a character who, with courage never to submit or yield (Paradise Lost I. 108), draws me in by the idea that it was not evil character but a courageous character that fought against powerful God. This depiction makes it difficult to say that Satan is just evil. However, when we look even more at
Walker 3 Milton s depiction of Satan in Paradise Lost and compare it to the description of a tyrant we can see that there are many similarities. Firstly is Milton s idea that a does not care for the common good of everyone but only cares about himself and his own faction. This is a characteristic we see in Satan through out Paradise Lost. Milton s careful wording and description of Satan give the idea that Satan s actions were based on his own wants. What time his Pride had cast him out from Heav n, with all his Host of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring To set himself in Glory above his Peers, he trusted to have equall d the most High. (Paradise Lost I. 35-40) Milton uses the word pride to describe the reason behind Satan s actions. It was Satan s self-importance that spurred him and his band of rebel angels to rise against God so that he and he alone could have power that equaled Gods power. Milton never states that Satan planned for all of his conspirators to receive power as well but that only he wanted glory above his peers and power equal to Gods. Satan then speaks on his fellow fallen angels in connection to how they are still strong enough to conquer God. Even when speaking to his peers Satan still comments on his own power of will. Join d with me once, now misery hath join d In equal ruin and to the fierce contention brought along Innumerable force of Spirits arm d the unconquerable will and study of revenge, immortal hate That glory never shall his wrath or might extort from me... We may with more successful hope and resolve To wage by force or guile Eternal War (Paradise Lost I. 90-121) They have all been cast out of Heaven and into misery together. However, Satan is glad that they are all there together. Together they can take their revenge against God because God will never take away Satan s will. Together they are armed and strong enough to continue the eternal war against God and Heaven. As rousing as this speech might be to a
Walker 4 band of fallen rebel angels, it still shows Satan s selfishness. Satan states that God will never take glory for him not from them. Satan wants to use the strong forces of the other rebel angels to get his revenge and the glory he seeks. For Milton that selfishness is a trait of leaders that makes them tyrants and is a trait of Satan s that makes him evil. Another trait that Milton discusses is the tyrants willingness to shed blood and destroy cities to achieve its goal. This is definitely one of Satan s traits. The first example of these traits in Satan can be seen when he is rallying his fellow angels together to undermine Gods power. Satan urges them to do everything evil they possibly can against God. To do aught good never will be our task, But ever to do ill our sole delight, As being the contrary to his high will Whom we resist let us not slip th occasion, whether scorn, Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe Consult how we may henceforth most offend our Enemy (Paradise Lost I. 160-186) Satan wants his fellow rebel angels to do everything in their power to go against God. They will never do a single good deed but will only take pleasure in active and evil resistance that will anger and offend God the most. Milton s use of the word consult gives the impression of a systematic and planned group course of action to attack God. In fact the other rebel angels do come together to destroy and corrupt as much as they can, yet to thir General s voice they soon obey d innumerable by falsities and lies the greatest part of mankind they corrupted to forsake (Paradise Lost I. 330-367) When the other rebel angels heard Satan s decry they went out in a countless flock to do all the evil they could. They use falsities and lies to destroy the mankind the God created. Paradise Lost continues for 100 plus lines detailing the destruction and corruption at the hands of
Walker 5 the rebel angels all at the command of Satan. This is exactly what Milton said was a characteristic of a tyrant, giving order for destruction. This is another characteristic of Satan that makes him evil. Satan s apathy for the common good and his destructive nature are shown when he plans to corrupt Gods newest creation: Man. Satan wishes to corrupt this favored race of God in the ultimate act of revenge. To waste his whole Creation, or possess all as our own, and drive as we were driven, the puny habitants, or if not drive, seduce them to our party, that thir God may prove thir foe and with repenting hand abolish his own works. This would surpass common revenge. (Paradise Lost II. 363-371) By corrupting man Satan will destroy the thing that God loves the most. Satan wishes to either destroy man entirely or seduce them to evil so that God will be forced to abolish them in the same way he and the rebel angels were abolished. Satan wants to turn man against God in an act of revenge that exceeds all acts of revenge. This is the pinnacle of Satan s evil. He wishes to destroy an innocent unknowing race just to spite God. Satan does not care about this new race. This shows when Satan calls the inhabitants puny. The use of the word puny gives the impression that to Satan this new race is weak and almost insect like. His concern is not for the better good but only for the destruction of Gods power. This idea is reinforced when Satan sees Adam and Eve for the first time and sticks to his resolve to destroy the two creatures that even he finds beautiful. Their beauty and their innocence will not stop him from his wicked deed. To you whom I could pity thus forlorn though I unpitied hell shall unfold, to entertain you two (Paradise Lost V. 374-380). Even though Satan does pity them in some amount, because he was not pitied, he will continue on his mission to corrupt Adam and Eve. This shows that Satan has no
Walker 6 concern for anyone but himself and his own misery. He will seduce Adam and Eve down into his hell just for his own revenge. If nothing else is measured, when looked at in the context of Milton s Tenure of the Kings and Magistrates this makes Satan evil. Even though Satan is a complex character to analyze and judge as morally good evil, by looking at him through the context of The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, an argument of evil can be made. He exhibits characteristics of tyrant that make him evil by Milton s standards. Satan is selfish, destructive, eloquent character. He has no empathy for the common good but for only fulfilling his ambitions of power and revenge. All of these things combined make Satan evil.
Walker 7 Work Cited: Milton, John. Complete Poems and Major Prose ed. With Notes and Introduction, Merritt Y. Hughes. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2003. ---Paradise Lost. 1674. Hackett Publishing, 2003. ---Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. 1649. Hackett Publishing, 2003