Perspective
The most interesting and important part of Paradise Lost is the use of perspective in telling its story. All stories have more than one side and Paradise Lost Books I and II aim to tell of Satan’s fall from grace from his side of the story.
This kind of story has seen some more popularity recently with shows like Lucifer, Good Omens, and Supernatural. But Paradise Lost was one of the first to tell the story in such epic proportions. The author, John Milton, wanted to write an epic in English that rivaled the quality of Homer and create art out of the English language. A story written from Satan’s point of view helped him achieve that and made Milton a very successful poet.
In Paradise Lost, Satan is a fallen angel, doomed to hell for rebelling against God and trying to take over heaven. Book I and II use Satan’s perspective make the reader try to sympathize with Satan and his followers, making him seem like the good guy of the story. After all, God was tyrannical right?
The power of perspective can make almost anything seem right. The banishment to hell that Satan faces seems cruel when looked at from his perspective.
Paradise Lost doesn’t change what Satan is at its core, however. Satan is still vengeful, manipulative, and powerful. Rather than wallowing in hell, he takes dominion over it and brings together his followers to devise a plan to take revenge on God.
Perspective is a powerful tool in literature. It can enhance the good in a story the same way it can enhance the bad. When given both perspectives of a story, it can call to question which side is truly good or truly bad. A grey area can form which leaves things up to whoever is interpreting the story. Maybe Satan isn’t as bad as it’s normally made out to be? Maybe God isn’t as benevolent than he is claimed to be?
Perspective is everything, even beyond literature.
