In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, the semblance of hell, Satan and his fellow demons is often radically different from their substance. One strong example of this is in hell’s freedom. Satan claims that hell is a democratic form of government, but this is proven not to be the case through Satan’s tyrannical rule and his refusal to let anyone debate his decision to go to Earth. Milton is saying that Satan is a liar who provides a false freedom to his subjects, and he is only putting on his opposition to tyranny as a show.
Satan portrays Hell as a place where all are equals:
Where there is then no good
For which to strive, no strife can grow up there
From faction; for none sure will claim in hell
Precedence, none, whose portion is so small
Of present pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. (Paradise Lost: Book II 30-35)
Satan is saying that no one in hell will be the leader, since they are all suffering it’s pain together. He is trying to manipulate his fellow demons into taking solace in the fact that at least in hell they will all be equal, and no one will want to lead because they will suffer more pain. Because the demons have nothing higher to strive for, they will not fight amongst each other. Ironically, this purportedly leads the demons to be stronger and better off than the angels in heaven. Satan also implies that hell is democratic: “by what best way, / Whether of open war or covert guile, / we now debate; who can advise, may speak” (Paradise Lost: Book II 40-42). Satan is giving the impression that hell has a more democratic form of government than heaven. All of the demons are ostensibly free thinkers who have the freedom to share their opinions on the best course of action. Satan is also portraying heaven as tyrannical and unequal to justify his rebellion. In hell, the demons are their own masters, free to act without fear. This has already been shown with the creation of Pandemonium. Satan’s pitch is that in the democratic nature of hell the demons will find the best way “to claim our just inheritance of old” (Paradise Lost: Book II 38).
However, hell is not free, and one example that proves this is Satan’s conduct after he decrees that he will explore the void for earth:
Thus saying rose
The monarch, and prevented all reply,
Prudent, lest from his resolution raised
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refused) what erst they feared;
And so refused might in opinion stand
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
Dreaded not more the adventure than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. (Paradise Lost: Book II 466-475)
Satan prevents his fellow demons from replying to him, because he is afraid that they will now want to accompany him. If he refuses their request, the assembly will vote to allow the other demons to accompany Satan, and thus they will take his glory. Here we see Satan’s selfishness, pride and arrogance: he wants all the glory for himself and doesn’t actually care for his fellow demons. As soon as he has decided what to do, he does not want their opinion. Satan is also described as a monarch, making it clear that he is above the other demons and that hell is not equal or a democracy. Satan was already introduced in the book as sitting on an exalted throne. The other demons are not hailing Satan because they feel free but because they are afraid of the consequences if they don’t. This is just one example of Milton showing Satan as a deceiver who pretends to support the freedom of the demons while being in fact an oppressive tyrant.
Satan claims that hell is a democratic form of government where the demons are free, but in reality, he is a tyrant who rules through fear and does not allow discussion or voting on his decision to go to Earth. This example of Satan’s deceptive nature proves that Milton does not support Satan as some critics like William Blake have charged. It also shows Milton’s talent in that he is able to convincingly present Satan’s cause yet also reveal him as a tyrant.
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