Milton's Lucifer: Heaven as Hell?

Whether in modern literature or older works such as the Bible, a typical depiction of Lucifer by all writers consists of horns, a spiked tail, and flaming trident. Not to mention the red-hot skin. For example In Dante’s Inferno, Satan is portrayed similar as a monster preying on the souls of the dead and torturing them for all eternity. The common misconception in both these depictions is Lucifer as a fiery, mythical monster not the former archangel and power seeking figure he is.

Milton’s description of Lucifer is particularly appealing for this reason because in Paradise Lost, Milton does portray Lucifer as a power hungry and manipulative being, very similar to many we may encounter in actual everyday life. The line “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven” (Line 263) is one of many examples that Milton uses to help portray Lucifer as a man morally and psychologically flawed rather than an ugly, physically flawed demon.

Milton’s depiction of Lucifer also puts a sense of pity into readers for Lucifer, portraying him as a man simply with a different opinion, seeking personal freedom rather than serving under God as a slave. Lucifer at his core seeks his own happiness through leading and ruling his own way and if not for being morally flawed in his judgment, ambition, and deception could form an even more compelling case as the story’s anti hero “here we may reign secure; and, in my choice, To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell” (Lines 261-262).

Milton’s Lucifer has also left a lasting impact on the literary world today in characters such as Harry Potter’s Voldemort, quintessential James Bond villain Dr. No, or Wolf of Wall Street’s Jordan Belfort Milton’s characterization draws parallels with many or these iconic characters as they have common core traits such as greed, manipulation, and abusers of power.