Satan and the Technique of Degradation

Insane to suggest that Milton was unaware of what he had written

reasons inherent in the very nature of this theme why Milton was not in a position to appreciate its full complexity.

correctly Points out that Lewis is predisposed to read coherently malicious traits into Satan that disagree with the sympathetic character we’re introduced to in the first 2 books

literally falling for the deceit of fallen angels smh

"Belial's words are not only 'cloath'd in reasons garb': they are reasonable."

I, and Kranidas, think that he's pretty continuous throughout. The appearance of degradation stems from the critic's imposition of Fallen morals upon the rebellious angel

"It is not as if Milton, having blundered in the earlier books by making Satan much more glorious than he ever meant to do, had sought then somewhat belatedly to rectify his errors. I think we may easily accept this, and yet feel that it is not quite fair to the total impression to say that Milton in the first two books is occupied merely in putting 'the most specious aspects of Satan' in their proper place, at the beginning of the poem: letting Satan have his head, so to say, at the outset, giving him a run for his money; "

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