Tool Of The Devil: Comparing Satan in Paradise Lost and The Golden Comp

The devil, in literature, is always a catalyst of change for those who encounter him. He is a force working underground, moving against what is widely considered virtuous and good, and it is contact with him that often changes the course of characters lives, and horizontal the world. In Paradise confounded and a book based on it, The Golden Compass, the devil, in both cases, is an advocate for moving outside from the control of God and the Church. Where the stories differ, is in the authors intent for these actions. In the former, John Milton uses the devil to display how vanity and pride ar the sins that chip us in an opportunity to live blissfully, with and under God. Philip Pull military opus, in his whatchamacallum on Paradise Lost, The Golden Compass, claims that the original sin was the first, and most essential, whole step in human beings claiming their free will. He writes the devil (Lord Asriel) as a manipulative, selfish merely ultimately admirable character. One who stands his ground and holds onto his beliefs with an intemperate passion. Miltons Satan, on the other hand, comes off originally as charming, but slowly presents himself to be weak and unsure, and his ideals are unconstipatedtually presented as a mask for his insatiable pride. When Miltons Satan tricks Adam and Eve into expiration paradise, they are ultimately worse off. Pullman, on the other hand, shows that human beings are essentially crippled without their right and ability to sin and make choices. It is through and through their differing portrayals of Satan, that Milton and Pullman present their respective cases on how the original sin caused man to overlook paradise and eternal bliss, or find free will.      When Paradise Lost begins, the vainglorious actions of Satan have resulted in his removal from heaven and fixed him on the path to exact r evege against those who have done so. Though, the ref is hardly able to experience any distaste when re ading around this man who opposes the consented force of good. He is are charming, dark, fanatical and desperate in his attempts. It is from these characteristics, that the reader may be swayed into viewing him as the protagonist (or even the hero) of the tale. Even C.S. Lewis, famous for his critical detraction of Miltons Satan acknowledges how, "Miltons presentation of him (Satan) is a magnificent poetical achievement which engages the attention and excites the admirat... ... an essential moment that exemplifies our authoritative nature. Lord Asriel represents this, a man who is cunning and self absorbed, who is selfish in his tendencies, but also willing to fight passionately for freedom and independence. Pullmans Lord Asriel never feels guilt or remorse for his actions, as he fully believes his actions are not wrong. In The Golden Compass, the church is an insertion that oppresses its citizens, and Lord Asriel has no qualms in fighting against it.     &nb spIt is the truth poop Lord Asriels passion, that allows the reader to accept him as a manakin of hero, while it is Satans doubt and weakness that allows us to ultimately cast him aside. The resolve of Lord Asriel reflects Pullmans insistence on how noisome our own individual thoughts and determinations are. Though our actions may be negative and even harmful, he believes we are essentially soulless without them. Milton, however, sees that man has no greater obligation than to serve God, and this is the only way which we fecal matter find true peace within. Both authors use Satan as their strongest tool, to reflect where they believe we should put God and the Church in mans life.