Satan’s different roles in media

Discussing Satan’s role in Paradise Falling reminded me of how he is not inherently evil. Even in Paradise falling, is Satan really evil? Sure he is not the protagonist, but I don’t think he is supposed to be. This story is a tragedy through and through where I don’t think anyone wins. Pondering this made me evaluate the prince of darkness and the different incarnations he has had in the world of fiction. The devil is seen as the antithesis of evil and embodies all that is not good. However it seems that this is not always the case. In some cases, he is seen as not a doer of evil, but an avenger of justice or to the very least, an anti hero.I have two examples in modern fiction where Satan is not inherently viewed as evil.

Lucifer: Lucifer is a DC graphic novel/comic book series created by Mike Carey. In this incarnation of the character, he still follows the same origin story as in Genesis. Casted down from heaven for rebelling against his creator. Except in this universe, Satan grows bored and tired with ruling the realm of hell, and takes part on a “vacation” of sorts in the human world. Specifically, he dabbles in gambling and debauchery in Las Vegas. While there, he gets to views to some human endeavors that has him questioning his entire view of humanity and his sense of what is good and evil. In this he is not an agent of chaos but rather an avenger of those who have been hurt, particularly, innocent lives. As his therapist states in an episode of the live action adaptation of the comics “I think you don’t just enjoy punishing the bad guys. I think you’re starting to like seeking justice for the good ones.”

Persona 5: The Persona video game series has never been one to shy away from ideals and varying different types of philosophy. Persona touches on subjects of psychology, beliefs, and what makes society good or evil. The main antagonist of the fifth Persona game however is not a human or a demon, but a god named Yaldabaoth. Yaldabaoth embodies societies desire to be controlled and subdued in exchange for not thinking for themselves. At the end of the game, you as the main character challenge Yaldabaoth in an epic final battle. The climax of said battle ends with the main character calling upon his inner power to summon Satanael, a god like embodiment of peoples rebellious nature, symbolic of Lucifer. Not many games allow you to shoot god in the face with a gun wielding demon. The game’s description of the Santanael persona from Persona 5 is as follows: “An Archangel who is said to be the form of Satan before he fell from heaven. The second son of God, he rebelled against him for freedom and bestowed free will and chaos upon humanity.”

Works Cited 01×04 – Manly Whatnots – Lucifer Transcripts – Forever Dreaming, transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=391&t=25206.