Dante's Inferno

Many texts have been written about the untold stories of Hell, as the topic of Hell is rarely referenced in the Bible. One such example of this would be Dante’s Inferno. Another would be Milton’s, Paradise Lost. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost because he truly believed that he was special in God’s eyes and was sent to tell the story of the first sin by humans. Leon Harrison states, “Paradise Lost, which chronicles Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from Eden, is widely regarded as his masterpiece and one of the greatest epic poems in world literature.” Milton was a great writer and a devout christian, which can be shown in Paradise Lost. This text tells the story of man’s first sin against God by the eating of the fruit

Milton focus a lot on developing the character of Satan and much of the story is told from Satan’s point of view. The first two books in this text are strictly about Satan, Hell, and the fallen angels. In the opening books of Paradise Lost, Satan rises and gives a heroic speech challenging God stating that they can make, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.” Milton introduces Satan, not as much as a villain, but as a hero. He portrays Satan as one who rallies his troops to fight for a cause despite their recent loss in battle. A famous poet, William Blake, even states that Milton was, “Of the Devil's party without knowing it.” Many people believed that Milton wrote this poem to portray Satan as a victim, not a criminal. Milton made Satan appear to be heroic in the first couple books of his

Milton did give Satan heroic traits, but it is impossible to see Satan as a hero in this poem. Dan Romero points out, “ Satan is the enemy who chooses to commit an act that goes against the basic laws of God, that challenges the very nature of the universe.” Satan attempts to destroy Heaven, or to at least destroy the hierarchy in Heaven. Satan commits this act because he desires only what’s good for him. Satan does not want what God wants, only what he wants. Satan states, “Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.” Satan likes power, and in seeking the power he desires, he attempts to take control of Heaven, but is defeated. Satan wants power, so that he can be a tyrant of sorts. Satan doesn’t like to be a servant, rather he wants to own servants. In this poem, Satan cannot be a hero because of his unprecedented desire for power and