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论撒旦的本性
作者：牛培
来源：《神州·下旬刊》2013年第06期
Abstract： Satan is the famous character in Milton’s Paradise Lost. By analyzing the author’s identity， aims of creation， complexity of Satan’s character and unfair behavior， this paper argues that the nature of Satan is more like a devil instead of a hero in the epic. Keywords： nature of Satan； devil； hero； Paradise Lost Part I： Milton's Identity and His Aims of Creation
First， John Milton was born in a rich puritan family and he is regarded as the representative of puritan literature. As a devoted Christian poet， Milton is unlikely to hold a positive view of Satan who rebels against God and seduces Adam and Eve.
Second， why Milton engaged to write such a long poem？ At the very beginning， the author answered us〝I may assert Eternal Providence， And justify the ways of God to men.” If the author followed his purpose， he is unlikely to describe Satan as a positive character. If not， then just like Walter Bagehot had expressed \"it did not achieve its `dogmatic aim' of justifying the ways of God，\" In addition， the creation of Satan is served for the creation of the God. Milton creates an image of great Satan who is very powerful， but eventually he is still lost to the God. So， it’s easily to realize the invincible and powerful of the God. Part II： Complex Character of Satan
In the work， we can even not control our feelings to love such a \"hero\" whose words are full of heroic spirit. But this is only a small part of Satan's character. In the story， he rebels to the God and seduces Adam and Eve so that they are driven out. All the behavior is unfair. And he even became a snake to reach his aim. Here， we can never find his brave and handsome. And this is not a behavior that a hero should do.
In addition， Milton devoted all his life in the Bourgeois-democratic movement. So， he can't help pouring his Revolutionary zeal to the description of Satan. He expressed his strong will and his decision of never yield by Satan's mouth. So， we are moved when we read it. But we can't view Satan as a positive one just because of the spirits.
Meanwhile， the story of Paradise Lost is taken from the Holy Bible. It is simply mentioned in the Bible and covers less than a page. But Milton makes it run more than 10，000 lines and cover twelve books. The richness of the story also brings the richness of Satan's character.
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Part III： The Description of Satan's Unfair Behavior
Some writers argued that the description of Satan didn't like a devil. We must admit that some description about Satan is wonderful； he looks like an almighty God rather than a devil. But Milton never described a devil very ugly and horrible. He believed that the true evil must be judged by what he did.
Satan is the person who\" seduced \" Adam and Eve， because of \"envy and revenge\". He rebels the God， and wants to equal with him. He believes that he failed just because God own the powerful arms， the thunder. All the descriptions make us know the author's negative attitude.
If we read the whole poem， we can find that he changed into many different animals， such as the lion and the snake. Milton wished to show us some underlying meaning by the image of animals. For example， we will think of the lion’s fierce and cruel， and the crafty of snake. So， all the evidences prove that Satan is more like a devil in the epic. Reference：
[1]Lewis， C. S. A Preface to Paradise Lost. London： Oxford University Press， 1942. [2]Milner， Andrew， John Milton and the English Revolution. London： Macmillan， 1981.
