of the rebellious angels who have just fallen from Heaven. As the
poem’s antagonist, Satan is the originator of sin—the first to be
ungrateful for God the Father’s blessings. He embarks on a mission
to Earth that eventually leads to the fall of Adam and Eve, but also
worsens his eternal punishment. His character changes throughout
the poem. Satan often appears to speak rationally and persuasively,
but later in the poem we see the inconsistency and irrationality
of his thoughts. He can assume any form, adopting both glorious
and humble shapes.
in-depth analysis of Satan.
first human, the father of our race, and, along with his wife Eve,
the caretaker of the Garden of Eden. Adam is grateful and obedient
to God, but falls from grace when Eve convinces him to join her
in the sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge.
in-depth analysis of Adam.
first woman and the mother of mankind. Eve was made from a rib taken
from Adam’s side. Because she was made from Adam and for Adam, she
is subservient to him. She is also weaker than Adam, so Satan focuses his
powers of temptation on her. He succeeds in getting her to eat the
fruit of the forbidden tree despite God’s command.
in-depth analysis of Eve.
God the Father
part of the Christian Trinity. God the Father creates the world
by means of God the Son, creating Adam and Eve last. He foresees
the fall of mankind through them. He does not prevent their fall,
in order to preserve their free will, but he does allow his Son
to atone for their sins.
God the Son
Christ, the second part of the Trinity. He delivers the fatal blow
to Satan’s forces, sending them down into Hell, before the creation
of Earth. When the fall of man is predicted, He offers himself as
a sacrifice to pay for the sins of mankind, so that God the Father
can be both just and merciful.
Devils, Inhabiting Hell
second-in-command. Beelzebub discusses with Satan their options
after being cast into Hell, and at the debate suggests that they
investigate the newly created Earth. He and Satan embody perverted
reason, since they are both eloquent and rational but use their
talents for wholly corrupt ends.
of the principal devils in Hell. Belial argues against further war
with Heaven, but he does so because he is an embodiment of sloth
and inactivity, not for any good reason. His eloquence and learning
is great, and he is able to persuade many of the devils with his
devil known in the Bible as the epitome of wealth. Mammon always
walks hunched over, as if he is searching the ground for valuables.
In the debate among the devils, he argues against war, seeing no profit
to be gained from it. He believes Hell can be improved by mining
the gems and minerals they find there.
devil who builds Pandemonium, Satan’s palace in Hell. Mulciber’s
character is based on a Greek mythological figure known for being
a poor architect, but in Milton’s poem he is one of the most productive and
skilled devils in Hell.
rash, irrational, and murderous devil. Moloch argues in Pandemonium
that the devils should engage in another full war against God and
his servant angels.
daughter, who sprang full-formed from Satan’s head when he was still
in Heaven. Sin has the shape of a woman above the waist, that of
a serpent below, and her middle is ringed about with Hell Hounds,
who periodically burrow into her womb and gnaw her entrails. She
guards the gates of Hell.
son by his daughter, Sin. Death in turn rapes his mother, begetting
the mass of beasts that torment her lower half. The relations between
Death, Sin, and Satan mimic horribly those of the Holy Trinity.
Angels, Inhabiting Heaven and Earth
of the archangels of Heaven, who acts as a guard at the Garden of
Eden. Gabriel confronts Satan after his angels find Satan whispering
to Eve in the Garden.
of the archangels in Heaven, who acts as one of God’s messengers.
Raphael informs Adam of Satan’s plot to seduce them into sin, and
also narrates the story of the fallen angels, as well as the fall
angel who guards the planet earth. Uriel is the angel whom Satan
tricks when he is disguised as a cherub. Uriel, as a good angel
and guardian, tries to correct his error by making the other angels
aware of Satan’s presence.
angel who at first considers joining Satan in rebellion but argues
against Satan and the rebel angels and returns to God. His character
demonstrates the power of repentance.
chief of the archangels, Michael leads the angelic forces against
Satan and his followers in the battle in Heaven, before the Son
provides the decisive advantage. Michael also stands guard at the
Gate of Heaven, and narrates the future of the world to Adam in
Books XI and XII.