Satan As Epic Hero In Paradise Lost
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A true epic hero usually comes across conflicts before they accomplish their goals. This guideline was set by great epic poets of the past, for example, Homer and Vergil. The epic hero of Paradise Lost is Satan because Satan comes across many difficulties trying to accomplish his goals. As tradition, Satan would normally be the "bad guy" and God the "good guy", and Milton, being a Puritan (Satan as Hero), should have made God his "good guy". Although, if Milton did that, then, he would not be following the guideline of an epic hero set by Homer and Vergil.
The very first example of Satan being the epic hero is after God sends him out of heaven and into the lake of fire. Satan says " All is not lost; the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome? (Milton line 106-109)" Like most epic poems, the hero, Satan, is giving his followers, the other fallen angels, a speech to bring up their spirits. Also, as most epic heroes, Satan has flaws in his personality. Satan is both vengeful and proud tainting the greatness of his character...