Satan, Adam, Christ and Milton as the Heroes of Paradise Lost

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Introduction

Who is the hero in Paradise Lost is one of the most controversial and heavily debated question by scholars and the general public as well. Before discussing about the heroes in this epic epic by John Milton, we have to unlock what terms a hero, what are the qualities of a hero etc. There are two main contenders for the crown of hero in Milton's Paradise Lost. The first is Satan and the second is Adam. But some critics deem Jesus Christ and Milton himself the hero of this epic.

What makes a hero, a hero?

It is the hero's qualities that actually shape him into a hero whom we admire. The first quality of a hero is his services are beneficial for others. The second quality of a hero is his extra-ordinary vision. This quality makes him entirely different from other humans for he accomplishes his tasks in his own distinctive ways. The third quality of a hero is his fondness of risks and losses. A true hero does not care about defeats. He adores risks and the "One Art" of losing. He can put his life at stake for his people. A true hero fights against his adversaries courageously and lastly, a hero is as humble as a "maiden" when he is in a street.

Satan as a Hero in Paradise Lost

Satan's portrayal in the first two books is heroic. There are many renowned critics like Dryden. Goethe, Blake, Shelly, Lowell, Masson, Thomas Arnold, and Raleigh, who endorse Satan as the hero in Paradise Lost. Thomas Arnold asserts his arguments in favour of Satan as thus,

It has been often said and it seems true that the hero or the prominent character of Paradise Lost is Satan. Throughout the first three books, the attention is fixed up on his proceedings.

What makes Satan a hero?

It is Satan's "unconquerable mind" which makes him a heroic figure. He strikes war against good angels and God. He is punished and burnt to hell but his mind is still fresh enough to fight a war against God with either "force or guile". He is determined and happy to be penalized to hell because,

To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n

Another heroic quality is his love for taking risks. He risks again to enter into Paradise and spoil Adam and Eve. But then we are turned to his villainish characteristics. Satan is on the worst degree of pride. We can safely say that he is blind in his pride. He is negatively confident that he and his army shook the throne of God. (Ouch! ) His enmity against the creation of God (we humans) both make him a heroic as well as villainish figure.

Adam as a Hero in Paradise Lost

Milton intended to "justify the ways of God to Men" through his epic. Justification of these ways was only possible through the "fall of Mankind" which was represented through Adam. Adam is a suitable contender for the hero in Paradise Lost because his decision can put other human-beings either in Paradise or on Earth. His personality is fed up by the internal conflicts which provoke him to leave Paradise out of his love for Eve after she has eaten the forbidden fruit. [Remember the quality self-sacrifice?] Adam's self-sacrifice puts him into the line of the possible heroes in Paradise Lost. [because the title directly relates to him. ] But Adam's love for Eve puts him in the danger zone in the line of heroes because in eating the forbidden fruit, he is disobeying God.

Jesus Christ as a Hero

Some critics deem Christ or Messiah as a possible hero. Because he proves fatal against the forces of Satan and sacrifices to save humanity from the curse of disobeying God. But his presence in the epic is not prominent. A critic, Addison, notes his point of Christ as a hero as follows,

it is certainly the Messiah who is the hero both in the principal action and in the chief episodes. But this is mere orthodoxy and not literary criticism. Paradise Lost is undoubtedly the epic of Man’s fall and redemption and the Messiah should have been its hero.

Milton as a Hero

Denis Saurat, a French critic, argues that Milton is also a possible contender for Paradise Lost. Milton depicts himself through the character of Satan. William Blake puts forward the notion of Milton being the one "of the Devil's party without knowing it." Milton's struggle against the establishment is often paralleled with that of Satan against God. But Milton neither said to, nor he wrote this epic for that purpose. Milton's main aim of this epic was to justify the ways of God to men.

Conclusion

It is evident that no contender checks all boxes required for a true hero. Paradise Lost is an epic without a definite hero in it.