Milton constructs a character who is trying to regain his power and influence. Reading Satan’s speech, it seemed to me that he was trying to rally troupes—to reassure them of their evil cause. He says, “…If then his Providence/Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,/ Our labour must be to pervert that end” (162-4). Satan knows what he is and does is evil. He is aware that he is fighting goodness:
“To do ought good never will be our task,
But ever to do ill our sole delight, [ 160 ]
As being the contrary to his high will
Whom we resist.”
He says they (his evil followers, I presume) must rest, (“if any rest can labour there”—reminiscent of Kent advising the same to Lear), and then reassemble. It seems interesting to me that Satan is being incredibly logical and effective like an general. He is studied and controlled. I feel the most revelatory statement in Satan’s speech is: “What reinforcement we may gain from Hope,/ If not what resolution from despare” (190-1). Satan has hope. Hope, which is associated with faith, God and Christianity. He then uses the paradoxical, “despare”, as his source of resolution. This is a contradictory insight into Satan’s character. I’m interested to see further developments.
I agree, Satan is remarkably well-spoken and logical in the way he speaks and acts. Also really interesting how he uses hope in the context of Satan, who is the epitome of hopelessness and despair.
ReplyDeleteWhat does hope refer to--having hope in his evil pursuits or hope in the religious sense? Earlier in the passage he says that he wants to "disturb his inmost counsels from their destined aim," the word destined admitting that destiny exists. If he admits that destiny exists, how can he also have hope in overthrowing it?
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