242-270 Generative Question and Class Response!!!

#1 How does Satan characterize God? What is the significance of his depiction of God? (242-270) Much of the responses to the question, I unfortunately could not read or addressed quotes outside of the alloted section. Although the legible, applicable part of the responses insightfully addressed the ways Satan characterizes God, they failed to tackle the second, more generative part.

In this section, Satan portrays God as a jealous bully – abusing his “Sovran” power to put the Devils who are equal to him in their ability to reason in Hell “for his envy.”

At first Satan is like Maya Angelou’s “caged bird” who can only “sing.” Trapped in the hopeless prison that is Hell, Satan can do little more to act on the injustice of his expulsion than speak out against God - and Satan pounces on this opportunity to speak freely and defiantly against God. Satan’s negative depiction of God creates a sense of Satan as the victim of a corrupt, oppressive government. By justifying his unwavering hatred towards and inclination to overthrow the tyrannical God, Satan creates an opening for sympathy towards him. This speech is our third insight into his thoughts, and how, even after his fall, Satan’s actions and feelings are largely determined by God.

-Maia