High amongst the clouds in Heaven, the other angels sat peacefully, talking amongst themselves. Satan sat alone and carefully considered his power at its current extend. “Would my power combined with that of other angels be enough to overthrow God?” Satan wondered to himself. Satan thought about all the times God’s mighty power was displayed, and in the Heaven where he sat, Satan remembered that it was with God’s power that Heaven was created. This consideration prompted Satan to doubt his power and ability to overthrow God. Later that day, after many more hours of thinking and considering the possibilities and outcomes of an attempt to overthrow God, Satan decided to attempt to overthrow God with the help of one third of Heaven’s angels. Satan nervously rebelled, aware of the risk and battling the feelings of uncertainty and anxiety that settled in his stomach. The angels, having seen Satan’s careful planning, were sure that he would succeed. After all, Satan had spent so much time planning, that he must have come up with a plan that would outsmart God. A third of the angels in Heaven rebelled alongside Satan, but the rebellion did not go as planned. After being cast from Hell, Satan, once again alone, roamed Earth and reasoned with himself. “Clearly my powers were no match for God’s, and it was my own fault for assuming and concluding that I could overpower him. Instead I ended up here, on Earth, where I must stay and this is all because of my own decisions which I alone made.” Satan sat on a rock under a tree, and he sighed. “Although I do regret my choice, as clearly my reasoning was flawed, I will accept the situation as it is now and I will remain here on Earth as I deserve.”
Analysis
In my short story, Satan displays much uncertainty in determining whether or not he can overthrow God. Satan remembers that it was with God’s power that Heaven was created. This consideration prompts Satan to doubt his power and ability to overthrow God. In contrast, the character of Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost in Book I is much more certain, and is a very prideful character. In Book I he is a strong, imposing figure with great abilities as a leader and public statesmen, as in Milton’s version he manages to persuade the angels to rebel against God. In contrast, the short story version of Satan manages to persuade the angels by through his careful consideration of all the possibilities, which suggests to the angels that Satan’s plan to overthrow God is well thought out.
Also, the Satan in my short story shows an ability to understand consequences. For example, when he is cast out of heaven, the short story Satan reasons with himself and understands the reasoning behind being cast out, and even accepts responsibility for his actions. In contrast, Milton’s Satan in Paradise Lost shares his pain and alienation as he reaches Earth in Book IV, and this causes the reader to feel somewhat sympathetic to him or even identify with him. The short story looks at Milton’s Satan through a different lens and examines him and a more logical, less emotional character; instead of Milton’s super eager to rebel turned mournful after failure character, the short story Satan is more reasonable and uses logic to navigate the situation.