Copy of Copy of CHAPTER 1

8/3/2019 Copy of Copy of CHAPTER 1

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

A great leader should have great qualities of character. He should have courage,

resourcefulness and an indomitable will. Above all, he should be a man of action and

Miltons Satan is endowed with all these qualities.

Satans character is multifaceted and can be interpreted in numerous lights but themost prominent feature of his character is his leadership. Besides , Satan is not only

courageous himself , he can also inspire courage in his followers. When they lie dazed and

stupefied in the lake of liquid fire , the courageous words of Satan roused them from their

stupor and make them bold and active once again . For example his opining speech shows

him a courageous leader.

Though changed in outward lustre that fixed mind,

And high disdain from sense of injured merit,

. . . .

What though the field be lost?

All is not lostthe unconquerable will,

And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never to submit or yield;

And what is else not to be overcome?

That glory never shall his wrath or might

Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace

With suppliant knee, and deify his power (First speech)


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His courage and indomitable spirit make satan a unique figure in Paradise Lost.

As Eric Hoffer said:

The leader has to be practical and a realist , yet must talk the language of a visionary and

the idealist.

Satan greatest quality as a leader is his readiness to act under all circumstances.

Farewell, happy fields,

Where joy forever dwells, Hail, horrors, hail,

Infernal world,and thou profoundest Hell,Receive the new possesor one who brings

A mind not to be changed by place or time

The mind is its own place, and itself

Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven

Satan has many admirable qualities for example his power of endurance his heroism

and his indomitable refusal to admit defeat.In order to pinpoint exactly what is within Satans

character that portrays his qualities of leadership. It is better to know what leadership is? The

Oxford English Dictionary offers a definition of the term leadership as,

The action or influence necessary for the dirction or organization of effort in a group

undertaking.

As a leader Satan is ready and eager to assume his difficulties, responsibilities and

dangers of leadership as well as its rights; ready to accept Hazard as well as Honour. He

shows a noble sense of duty of self-sacrifice incumbent on him on account of his position as

King of Hell or Prince of Darkness.

Here we may reign secure, in my choice,

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:

Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven. (Third speech)


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It is not ordinary ambition; there is something colossal in his bold challenge and we find that

Satans leadership is more participative than directive more enabling than performing.

The aim of this study is to find out the truth , whether Satan possess such qualities

which make him a great leader.

This study will give a justification of Satan character , having capability of

leading his followers. It will give way to new researchers in conducting new research in

this field. This study will prove a new and fruitful addition in existing literature and will

open new horizon of learning. This study will give a new interpretation or judgment

about Satan. People often associate Satan name with evil or darkness but this study will

give new vision about Satan. Above all, this study will provide a guide line for those

instructors or students who want to delve even deeper into Satan character as a great

leader in Paradise Lost.

Poetry presents an emotional and intellectual experience rather than an abstraction

from an experience.

Greek epikos from epos , word narrative poem . epic is usually held to be

synonymous with heroic poem. An extended narrative poem ,exalted in style and heroic in

theme; a long poem which relates the story of an event or of aseries of events, whether

historical ao imaginary concerning heroic in action by one or more individuals, usually over

a relatively long period of time.

Epics are of two kinds;


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1) Traditional2) Primary

The literary or secondary epics Iliad and Odyssey of the Greek Homer and the

Anglo-saxon Beowulf belong to the first traditional category and Virgils Aeneid and

Miltons Paradise Lost belong to the second category (primary). An epic follows

certain conventions such as:

The poet starts by announcing his theme, invoking the aid of muse and asking

her an epic question, with the reply with which the story begins. He then launches his

action in medisa rex (in the middle of things). The preceding events are narrated at

some appropriate hour later on this action relates to a hero, a man of the story the

hero performs many notable deeds one of which is to descend in to the under world.

The major characters are catalogued and described many of them having dignified set

speeches which reveal their characters. There are usually great battles in which the

gods themselves take part finally; the epic poet adopts a style dignified, elaborate and

exalted, suitable to his theme.

Hellen Gardner says:

Every great work of art creates its own universe that obeys its own

imaginative laws. As we read on, or look, or listen we came to learn what may be

expected and what may not; what we can demand and what we cannot or should not

ask.


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This view of Hellen Gardner is very sensible and I am agree with her that the

universe of Paradise Lost is intensely dramatic and filled with energies passions and

wills yet the character that gives epic grandeur to Paradise Lost is that of Satan.

Though he was banished ever from the bliss of heaven, he kept up his strength of

spirit which arouse the admiration of all. No amount of torture could damp the brave

spirit of Satan.

Though Satan represents evils, he has a greatness all his own. He is a born

leader. To him weakness is a crime

Fallen cherub, to be weak is miserable

Doing or suffering

The hypothesis of the study is that despite of his evil nature towards humanity

he has qualities of a great leader and being a great leader he is a man of actions.

This study is a historical study. The researcher has used a variety of

approaches for acquiring data for this thesis. Undertaking all approaches due to lack

of time and resources, the researcher has rested on her own observation .In addition ,

she has derived information relevant to her topic from libraries, internet, articles,

Journals and books on Satan as embodiment of leadership qualities.


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There are following objectives behind this research:

1) Proving Satan as ambitious leader capable of leading his followers.2) Proving Satan as an optimistic leader / character.3) Enhancing the positive features of Satan personality.4) To discussing the positive features of Satan characters

Due to shortage of time and resourses this study is delimited to John Miltons

Paradise Lost only.

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Copy of Copy of CHAPTER 1