MB UNIUD

Right from the title, the reader creates some expectations. As a matter of fact the contrast between Hell an Heaven focuses the reader's attention. This two word belong to the religious code, this makes the reader think that all the poem will speak about religious themes.

The text opens with some questions that Satan asks to Belzeboub.

The word order isn't the common one, and in the first line the reader finds the frequent use of "this" and "that" that conveys the idea of contrast between something near (this, referring to Hell) and something far (that, referring to Heaven).

Satan, also called Lucifer (from the latin lux = light, that means "he who lost the light of Heaven") has been plunged to Hell because of his sin of pride. This image of the divine light is used also in a metaphorical way "for that celestial light".

The celestial light stands for the Heaven, but from the Hell, Heaven is very far. For this reason he use "that", to underlines the distance.

All the speech is based on the rhetorical contrast:

• Hell VS Heaven
• Bad VS Good
• White VS Black
• Light VS Darkness

this is a medieval theme, typical of the religious code.

The Satan's personality that comes out is very strong. As a matter of fact, in Hell is as powerful as God on Heaven. Here is another contrast: God vs Satan. They're not very different expect for the sin of pride. Satan is here described as an epic hero.

However his mind will not change. He is happy because of his own reign. It doesn't matter if it's a good reign or a bad reign, it gives him power and satisfies his sin to be proud.