Paradise Lost Book 1 : Characters
Paradise Lost Book 1 is a notable literary work by John Milton. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Paradise Lost Book 1.
Characters
Satan: Satan is the main character in Paradise Lost. He was once a high angel in Heaven. But he became too proud and wanted to be equal to God. So, God threw him out of Heaven. He fell into Hell with other angels. In Hell, Satan becomes their leader. He speaks bravely and plans revenge against God. He decides to destroy God’s new creation, Man. Satan is proud, clever, and full of evil ideas.
God (The Father): God is the Creator of everything. He is powerful and wise. He knows everything, even the future. When Satan rebels, God throws him and his followers into Hell. God allows Satan to tempt Man, but He already has a plan to save them. God stands for truth and goodness.
The Son (Jesus Christ): The Son is God’s only Son. He is loving, obedient, and kind. When Man falls into sin, he offers to give his life to save them. In the poem, he shows both strength and love. He becomes the bridge between Man and God.
Adam: Adam is the first human created by God. He is strong, wise, and innocent. God gives him a beautiful garden to live in, called Eden. He also gives him Eve as a companion. Adam is told not to eat from one tree. But he eats it after Eve does. Adam chooses love for Eve over obeying God. As a result, he is punished. But he later feels sorry and hopes for forgiveness.
Eve: Eve is the first woman. God made her from Adam’s rib. She loves Adam and enjoys life in Eden. One day, Satan tricks her into eating the forbidden fruit. She wants knowledge and power. After eating, she becomes aware of sin. She convinces Adam to eat too. Eve later feels guilty and prays to God. She is punished but also given hope for the future.
Beelzebub: Beelzebub is Satan’s second-in-command. He was also a high angel before falling into Hell. In Hell, he becomes Satan’s closest advisor. He supports Satan’s plan to destroy Man and helps to organize the fallen angels. He suggests tricking and destroying God’s new creation instead of fighting God directly.
Raphael: Raphael is a holy angel who serves God. God sends him to warn Adam and Eve about Satan. Raphael tells Adam the story of Satan’s rebellion and the war in Heaven. His job is to help humans avoid sin. He shows God’s care and love for mankind.
Michael: Michael is a strong and brave angel. He is one of God’s greatest warriors. He fights in the war against Satan and defeats many evil angels. Later, God sends Michael to drive Adam and Eve out of Eden. Michael teaches Adam that even after sin, there is still a way to return to God.
Mulciber: Mulciber is the builder of Pandemonium, the capital of Hell. He was once the best architect in Heaven. After the fall, he uses his skills to build a golden palace for Satan. Mulciber represents fallen talent.
Mammon: Mammon is one of the fallen angels. He loves gold and wealth more than anything else. Even in Heaven, he looked at the golden floor instead of God. He wants to make Hell a comfortable place. He doesn’t care much about fighting God. He is greedy, materialistic, and focuses on wealth over worship.
Moloch: Moloch is a strong and violent fallen angel. He wants to fight against God again with full force. He says war is better than sitting in Hell and doing nothing. Moloch is brave but also very aggressive.
Belial: Belial is another fallen angel. He speaks softly and acts peaceful, but he is lazy and hopeless. He does not want war with God. He fears more punishment. He says it is better to stay in Hell quietly.