"From Satan"

William Empson’s critique, From Satan, is a short article that points out some character inconsistencies with Creation’s primary antagonist. The author claims that Satan starts off as a strong leader, a character with a lot of drive and ambition. Then he transforms from confident to doubtful, and eventually seems to be “rapidly rotting away”. Essentially, Satan is a dramatic character.

Empson briefly touches upon a point we discussed in class concerning Satan, the fallen angels, and their environment in hell. Like we discussed, the angels are suffering in hell, yet they are able to act freely. While the angels are discussing their current situation amongst themselves, Satan “expresses a rather self-indulgent pity for them and says he must bring upon them ‘death’ and ‘long woes’; but in Milton’s world death is a very subtle or almost meaningless term, and they might gain honor in the end as a reward for their long woes” (Empson). They are cut off from the pleasurable experiences they were able to have before their condemnation, which would explain why Satan became jealous of Adam and Eve’s sexual relationship and where they lived in Paradise.

The author believes that one can view Satan’s character in two ways; either as sincere, and you sympathize with him, or as the enemy. No matter which, Satan is both sincere and villainous. Empson argues that Satan partially believes that he can actually save Adam and Eve from the all-powerful tyrant that used to rule over him and his followers, but he also wants to use them to spite God. It is at this point where the author believes that Satan is “rotting away”.

I agree with the author’s brief assessment of Satan, because in Paradise Lost there are moments were he shows regret and remorse towards his actions. When he first saw Adam and Eve in Eden, Satan had wished God had made him a “lesser being”. He is certainly indecisive, switching back and forth between certainty and doubt with his actions. I am not sure if I would call this “rotting away”, but it could arguably be hypocritical. He wants to start trouble, but then later regrets it. Is he able to make up his mind? What does he want?