Question Twenty-Nine: There are several details that can be seen in the text of “Paradise Lost” that could provide the information to support the claim that Satan is a round character. One example would be: “Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile / Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd / The Mother of Mankind, what time his Pride / Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his Host / Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring / To set himself in Glory above his Peers”, (Book One, Lines 34 – 39). A second example would be: “He trusted to have equal'd the most High, [ 40 ]If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim / Against the Throne and Monarchy of God / Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud / With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power / Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie / With hideous ruine and combustion down / To bottomless perdition, there to dwellIn Adamantine Chains and penal Fire, / Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms. / Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night”, “Book One, Lines 40 - 50).
Satan is a round character. Satan’s character—or our perception of his character—changes significantly from Book I to his final appearance in Book X. In Book I he is a strong, imposing figure with great abilities as a leader and public statesmen, whereas by the poem’s end he slinks back to Hell in serpent form. Satan’s gradual degradation is dramatized by the sequence of different shapes he assumes. He begins the poem as a just-fallen angel of enormous stature, looks like a comet or meteor as he leaves Hell, then disguises himself as a more humble cherub, then as a cormorant, a toad, and finally a snake. His ability to reason and argue also deteriorates. In Book I, he persuades the devils to agree to his plan. In Book IV, however, he reasons to himself that the Hell he feels inside of him is reason to do more evil. When he returns to Earth again, he believes that Earth is more beautiful than Heaven, and that he may be able to live on Earth after all. Satan, removed from Heaven long enough to forget its unparalleled grandeur, is completely demented, coming to believe in his own lies. He is a picture of incessant intellectual activity without the ability to think morally. Once a powerful angel, he has become blinded to God’s grace, forever unable to reconcile his past with his eternal punishment. hopefully this helps?
I don't see how any of those selected quotes about Satan imply that he is a "round" character.
The King's followers began to attack his honor.
I don't see how those examples fit the deffenition of satan being a round character either. It doesnt show that hes changed.. I mean the story is all around more indepth about him but those quotes to show that.
He has many facets, often conflicting and he evens stops to question his actions. He shows weakness and has a range of emotions from envy to revenge and he changes dramatically throughout the story. Satan is more complex and interesting than many other characters. He thinks things over carefully and deviously choosing actions that may have been unexpected. Although it’s easy to just see him as evil he has more of a personality than that.
In the text of "Paradise Lost," there are several details that support the claim that Satan is a round character. One example is found in Book One, lines 34-39, where Satan is described as the infernal serpent who deceived Eve, leading to the fall of mankind. This depiction shows Satan's guile, envy, and revenge, which are complex and multifaceted traits. This complexity suggests that Satan is a round character because he possesses a range of emotions, motivations, and actions.
Another example is found in Book One, lines 40-50, where Satan's ambitious aim to rival God and his subsequent rebellion are described. Satan's desire to equal the Most High and his audacious attempt to wage war against God's throne demonstrate his arrogance and ambition. Additionally, his ultimate downfall and punishment, being cast out of heaven into bottomless perdition, reveal the consequences of his defiance. This portrayal of Satan as a character with grandiose aspirations and a tragic fate adds depth and complexity to his personality, further supporting the claim that he is a round character.
To analyze a character's roundness, it is essential to look for textual evidence that showcases their multidimensional traits, motivations, and transformations. In "Paradise Lost," these examples illustrate Satan's multifaceted nature and provide insights into his actions and inner turmoil, affirming his status as a round character.