LITR222 Essay #2

Develop an essay of 750 to 1000 words minimum/maximum with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Include a works cited page.

Discuss a difficult decision faced by one of these characters: Milton’s Satan, Bunyan’s Christian, or Behn’s Oroonoko. What is the moral dilemma involved? How does the character reach his decision? What do you think that the author is trying to teach us about free will?

ANSWER

Character Analysis: Satan in the Paradise Lost Book

Introduction

Satan is one of the primary characters in the Paradise Lost Book. His character exemplifies one of the difficult decisions that people encounter in their lives. He portrays a good and evil perspective, which makes him unable to recognize and appreciate who he is. He faces a moral dilemma of being himself and what others expect from him. However, his soliloquy finally makes him decide that his evil character is who he is. This recognition allows the audience to assess the impact of free will in their lives. They learn always to be independent rather than relying on external forces to determine their behavior. Overall, Satan’s inability to uphold his self-perspective and act as per other people’s expectations portrays a major difficult decision.

Self-Acceptance

Satan faces a difficult decision between appreciating who he is and making people believe that he is the opposite. He does not see himself precisely who he is because of the desire to win other characters’ attention. Satan possesses both good and evil powers. This is a situation that highlights the inability to be themselves. He experiences a rough time trying to be who he is and painting a different picture into the public domain. This is a major challenge because it makes one possess different characteristics depending on the situation and circumstances. Satan can be portrayed as having a two-sided character, which creates the perception that he has difficulty appreciating who he is. On one hand, he understands perfectly well that he is a complex and subtle person. However, he wants to make others believe that he is an easy-going person. He blames his woes on God and, at the same time, reaffirms that his own free will led him to rebel. Satan says, “Did I request thee, Maker for my lasting woes” (Milton 247). He connects his problems to God but fails to recognize that he is behind his woes. Satan knows that he possesses negative characteristics because he states that it is better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven (Milton 51). This statement shows that his character is based on harmful intentions, especially towards others. However, he wants people to believe that his misery is from God. Overall, one of Satan’s difficult decisions is appreciating who he is and avoiding painting a different picture to other people.

The Moral Dilemma Involved

Satan is tied between himself and acting in line with other people’s expectations. He cannot decide his character because of the conflict between the self and what others would want and wish him to be. He casts himself as an innocent person, but his deeds remain rooted in evil. His acts portray his desire to lead people in the wrong direction. For instance, he plots against God and humankind. This act shows that Satan is not interested in humankind’s welfare. At the same time, he plays the victim of the adverse outcomes that happen to them, whereas he is solely responsible for his problems. Thus, the moral dilemma incorporated in the character’s traits revolves around recognition and acceptance of who one is and the desire to act in line with other people’s expectations.

Arriving at the Decision

Even though Satan initially fails to be himself, he finally decides to appreciate who he is through a monologue. He reveals himself as a complex and conflicted person. At first, he is heard lamenting to God about his miseries but later appreciates that his free will led him into behaving adversely. Satan recognizes that he is Hell itself, which indicates that he finally decides to be himself. Throughout the book, he lives in a conflict emerging from the inability to be himself and act as others expect of him. In this soliloquy, the audience gets a chance to witness his refusal to reconcile with God. He continues to align himself with evil by declaring that he would use it to fight God. His words help the audience to assess his true character, one that he has always tried to hide by playing the victim.

The Author’s Message about Free Will

The author’s content creates awareness of free will with the message that individuals are free to be themselves and should never be influenced by others. They should always act independently and never run away from themselves. Satan lacks free will in this book because he tries to act in line with what others expect of him. However, his character is contrary to this, and the truth resurfaces no matter how hard he tries to conceal it. Free will makes people choose freedom and perceive their actions as choices (Feldman, Roy, and Kin 5). It makes individuals adopt actions that align with their inner self as opposed to external influence. Overall, the author informs the audience always to base their actions on their free will.

Conclusion

Satan possesses both good and evil characteristics, an aspect that makes him unable to make the key decision of self-acceptance. He fails to be himself because he is attracted to behaving as per other people’s expectations. This raises a moral dilemma because he is tied between being himself and what others demand of him. His situation presents the call for people to ensure that they have the free will to do and become what they want. Individuals should always learn to be themselves.

Works Cited

Feldman, Gilad, Roy F. Baumeister, and Kin Fai Ellick Wong. “Free will is about choosing: The link between choice and the belief in free will.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 55 (2014): 239-245.

Milton, John. Paradise Lost: Book I. Clarendon Press, 1887.

Milton, John. Paradise Lost: Book II. MH Gill, 1832.