John Milton- Paradise Lost

Book 1 - Lines 242-272

These lines are among the most famous in Milton's Paradise Lost.

They are particularly useful to understand Satan's personality. Right from the start the intelligent reader can see that Satan's most urgent need is power. The speaking voice reports Satan's words in direct speech, speaking of him as "the lost Arch Angel". Satan's words are highly rhetorical, following the conventions of the classical epic style. As the intelligent reader can see, Satan asks a question of which he already knows the answer.

Immediately after you can understand that Satan is perfectly aware of God's identity, role and power. This comes to surface directly from his words. He does not express the need to substitute God; rather he prefers to keep as far as possible from him. He wants freedom and wants to create a new life. He wants to create his personal heaven from hell. However, in hell Satan can be free, important and powerful.

Satan is described as a splendid tragic figure, as it is required by a protagonist of an epic poem.

Speaking of the general message of the text, Milton says that men are responsible of their own destiny. They have free will, but they have to accept the consequences of their choices.