The Revolutionist Mirrors on Satan’s Character

Hello everyone, today I will be sharing to you my literary writeback and analogy on the Allegory of John Milton's Paradise Lost.

Millions of spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven, and from eternal splendors sprung For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood, Their glory withered; as when heaven’s fire Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines, Within singèd top their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blasted heath.

Milton’s Description of the Fallen Angels Standing

Paradise Lost

The highlight of the 17th century deals on the chaos of humanity between royal court and parliament and between aristocrats and middle class. In other words, it started with the conflict between the Cavaliers and the Puritans. It highlights specifically on the Puritans as they opposed many customs of England especially during Oliver Cromwell’s regime. Thus, this literary write back speculates the character of Satan as the allegory for the Revolutionists.
The Puritans were a people who caused others to sit up and listen. They were bound and determined to make an impact in their generation. Their dreams and their goals were both individual and national. They were quite vocal in the way they engaged the challenges of their time.

The Puritans

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The Puritans were inclined to express their opinion quite forcefully, even to the point of straining the social constraints of a rigid monarchical English society. This would cause them, and the country, some significant pains of travail. They were people who enjoyed life and took on its challenges with enjoyment. To the Puritans life was a grand adventure.

The life of their families and their surrounding community was now in their hands. They knew the Biblical principles andCromwell viewed such conciliatory policy as necessary, but in some ways the Rump Parliament proved too conservative for Cromwell's tastes. He was particularly impatient with the Rump Parliament's failure allow religious freedom for all Protestant sects.

Cromwell assumes control as “Lord Protector of the Commonwealth”. Cromwell became a dictator and a tyrant leader. Cromwell's Protectorate is widely viewed as a time of strict, Puritanical rule, strictness in Military power; he even suppressed theatre and other frivolous activities. Thus, leading the non-conformist Puritans to revolt and seek for reform.​The revolutionists are the people who wanted a reform against the government. Their characteristics can be seen on the character of Satan in Milton’s work “The Paradise Lost”. He is the head of the rebellious angels who have just fallen from Heaven.

A Mirror on Satan's Character

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As the poem’s antagonist, Satan is the originator of sin—the first to be ungrateful for God the Father’s blessings. He embarks on a mission on Earth and eventually led to the fall of humanity. He leads an army to wage war against God and eventually went to earth and tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. That incident leads the downfall and casts them away in the paradise. Satan as the root of all evil can be considered as the protagonist in the period of revolution and restoration.

His characteristics somehow reflect on the rebellious group who wanted a change on the rule govern to them. “To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n”, these words uttered by Satan would emphasize the guts to rebel against God. It is better to be in hell and to follow and serve God. This might reflect the attitude of the revolutionists who would fight to restore and reform the strict and tyrant government.

They wanted to fight bloody revolution than to let them suffer from what is unjust. That would make the characteristics of Satan similar to the revolutionist. Going back to the description of Milton to the fallen angels, Satan is very influential leading the fallen angels to revolt as he used his silver tongue. Millions of spirits for his fault punished, and from eternal magnificence sprung for his revolt.

​In connection, I could somehow say that the revolution is not only present in England but also in the Philippines. Filipino revolted against the Spaniards for they did not want to follow and serve the unjust treatment of the Spaniards. They did not adhere to the rules of the Spaniards. We have Dr. Jose Rizal who fought for the freedom of the Filipino, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Lapu-Lapu and many others who revolted for the freedom. Thus, revolution is universal for the country which the main goal is to change and reform the strictness and unjust rulers.