Generative Question

Lines 242-270: Why does the devil decided to be evil and become king of hell instead of repenting his past actions and striving to be good?

The devil chooses to reign in hell because he knows that he is always going to be less powerful than God, which the devil expresses when he explains that he will always be "less than he" (line 257) Also, the poem repeatedly refers to the loss of hope that hte devils are experiencing in hell. This contributesto the idea that hte devils are not given any sort of hope that they will return to heaven. By becoming king of hell, Satan is also making the best out of his situation and is getting back at God with constant opposition. When Satans says "Waht may be yet/ Regaind in heav'n, or what more lost in hell?" he acknowledges the fact that there is nothing to be gained in heaven and nothing left to lose in hell.