Satan’s speech

In the present essay, I would like to advance a personal interpretation of the famous passage written by John Milton: Paradise Lost.

Firstly, I would like to clarify that the speaker is Satan and he is hailing his new kingdom, the Hell. Satan expresses his freedom and this is evident when he states “We shall be free; th’Almightly hath not built here for his envy. Moreover, he expresses his inferiority toward God; therefore, he does not feel equal to Him.

The extract is based on the contrast between hell and heaven, indeed it is possible to list features and attributes respectively linked to heaven and hell. Describing the heaven, Satan refers to celestial light and happy field where Joy for-ever dwells while describing the hell, he refers to mournful gloom, horrors, infernal words and unhappy mansion.

Satan seems to be glad about his new situation and this is proved be the sentence “Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven”. Satan refers to God with respect but at the same time he states that hell is better than heaven and there people will reign secure.

Finally, the extract provides features of Satan and paint him as an hero with courage and pride.