Milton devoted his life to the war of good and evil; this is evident in his epic poem "Paradise Lost", but also in his political battles against royalists who abused the power of the monarchy and presbyterians who wanted to impose religion. As a supporter of the Puritan cause, both were great evils in Milton's mind. He believed that both undermined the liberty that the Puritans held out and that he devoted his hand to "being used with all his might in the cause of his country and of liberty" (A Brief Life of Milton, 327 ). However, discerning “evil” ultimately depends on the perspective of the beholder, shaped by political and cultural, as well as religious, values. By the time he created Paradise Lost, Milton was all too familiar with darkness, both in a physical and social sense: his own political and religious beliefs had been cast in a bad light and left him isolated from society and almost blind. Likewise, in light of Hell in Paradise Lost, Milton's Satan seems somewhat valiant. He characterizes the “apostate angel” as a kind of oppressed and gives him a tragic grandeur that can be interpreted as warranting sympathy (I: 125). Although an “infernal serpent,” Satan possesses virtues comparable to the great epic heroes like Achilles and Odysseus, because he perseveres in his quest for victory and equality (I: 34). However, his unwavering pride is even more like Achilles; an arrogance that is the backbone of every one of his “heroic” ideas and measures. Milton's Satan in "Paradise Lost" should not be seen as a hero, but as a malignant narcissist with exceptional leadership skills. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the “Paradise Lost” books, not a single word is uttered by the nemesis without an ulterior motive, namely to overthrow the Kingdom of Heaven. Expelled from God's divine kingdom, Satan's resilience is impressive; he immediately rounds up his fellow fallen angels and begins to formulate a plan B. In his first conversation with Beelezbub while singing about the lake of fire, he is resolutely unrepentant, asserting that "All is not lost, the will invincible, / And studies of vengeance, of immortal hatred, / And the courage never to submit or give in: / And what else not to let himself be defeated (I: 106-109) demons have been defeated, Satan remains obsessed with fantasies of unlimited power and success and avoids all thoughts of servitude: “Satan exalted seated, raised by merit / To this evil eminence and from despair / Thus raised beyond; all hope, yearns / Beyond so high, insatiable to pursue / Vain war with heaven, and by uncultivated success / His proud imaginations thus deployed” (II: 5-10) embodies the "never give up, never surrender" mentality, rallying his demonic troops with assertions that "we will be free" (I: 259) and exhorting them "to unity, to firm faith and firm firmness.” agreement” (II: 36). His efforts to find the most feasible course of action through political debate appear diplomatic and fair, but it is a simple ploy that Satan uses to deceive and implement his own agenda - a hidden conspiracy by a mask of virtue. Beelezbub presents Satan's previously designed strategy in rhetoric that is intended to be the middle ground between the extremes of Moloch's and Mammon's arguments, and which appeals to the crowd as a perfect compromise. The decision conveniently presents the opportunity: 428).