The character of Satan is portrayed differently in Miltons Paradise Lost than it is in The In the Book of Job, Satan only appears in a small section of the story. He approaches God to question Jobs faithfulness. When asked where he came from, Satan replies: From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and from walking back and forth on it, (Job1:7, Job2:2).
Satan says that God has given Job many things but if he were to take them away, Job would surely curse him. To this, God replies: Behold all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person, (Job1:12).
After this Satan takes away all of Jobs possessions. Again Satan approaches God with the thought that Job will curse God if his life is harmed.
But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!(Job2:5).
God allows Satan to do what he wishes to Job; the only restriction is that he must spare his life. After this Satan struck Job with painful At this point in the Book of Job Satan leaves the story. There is no physical description given of him, and no reference of Hell. In Miltons Paradise Lost, Satan has been thrown into Hell for his pride, the most deadly of the Seven Deadly Sins. Satan wanted to be more powerful in Heaven.
Of rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring/ To set himself in glory above his peers,/ He trusted to have equaled the Most High,/ Against the throne and monarch of God/ Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud/ With vain attempt, (lines 38-44).
The Essay on Archibald Macleish Job Story God
... The Bible, Job's misfortune was spawned by Satan trying to show God that Job was not as holy as God had thought. God gave Satan the power ... to destroy everything Job had, including his health. Job's ... In The Bible, Job is confronted by his three friends. His friends encourages him to turn against God and to curse him, but ...
Satans wish is to be powerful. He tries to turn the others against God so he may rule over them in Hell. Here we may reign secure, and in my choice/ To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:/ Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven. (lines 165-167).
In contrast to the Book of Job, Milton gives Satan a physical description.
He is of monstrous size and is compared to a Leviathan. Satan also has wings and eyes that sparkled and blazed,(line 98).
…but his face/ Deep scars of thunder had entrenched, and care/ Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows/ Of dauntless courage, and considerate As stated earlier, there are many differences between the two portrayals of Satan. In the Book of Job, Satan seems nothing more than a son of God,(Job 1:6, Job 2:1), who is trying to tempt Job into cursing God. But in Paradise Lost it is clear that Satan was thrown out of Heaven for his sins, and is now the ruler of Hell.
