An Analysis of Satan's Final Speech in Milton's Paradise LostSatan's Final Speech to Eve, 11. 679-732, Book IX, in Milton's Paradise Lost, is a persuasive masterpiece carefully structured to appeal to his ambitious tendencies and to expand his already existing doubts (which Satan has implanted) about the perfect nature of God. Satan begins by worshiping the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and of Evil, as Eve will do after making her choice. Throughout the rest of the speech, he attempts to present the tree as an alternative focus of his faith. Satan attempts to weaken Eve's admiration and fear of God and to strengthen her faith in herself, or in the potential of what she could be if she dared to eat the fruit. Satan's speech is primarily interrogative: he asks provocative questions and then provides what he represents as all possible answers. Of course, every solution he offers supports his tree tasting. At the end of the prayer, whether we have biblical knowledge or not, it is evident that Eve cannot resist Satan's brilliant argument. Satan's first words are not addressed to Eve but constitute an exultation of the tree. He talks about the power it provided him, the near-ecstasy and knowledge that welled up within him since he (allegedly) tasted the fruit. Satan's emphasis on the power contained in the tree is perhaps a shrewd acknowledgment of Eve's feelings of inferiority. He realizes that Eve is tormented by Adam's predominant position and perhaps even resents the supremacy of God himself. Satan indirectly presents the tree as a means to fill this gap. Through a simple action, she can immediately assert her independence, as well as gain the wisdom and... the middle of paper... never been exposed to evil and fails to recognize it. He's an easy target. Satan introduces ideas that have never occurred to her before in the form of questions to draw Eve's mind to these concepts and make her think about them. However, it doesn't leave her much room for independent thought: Satan provides the answers to all the questions she asked. Eve is forced to make a decision as soon as possible and is given no time to resolve the errors in her argument. He does not have the tools to combat Satan's superior intellect. With Eve's faith in God severely shaken and her hopes raised for the future, her decision to eat from the tree is a foregone conclusion. Works Cited Milton, John. Paradise lost. The Norton anthology of English literature: the principal authors. Ed. MH Abrams. 6th ed. New York: Norton, 1990. 770-71.