The question of whether Satan is the hero or villain of John Milton's Paradise Lost has been widely debated by scholars over the centuries. Those who believe that Satan is the epic villain, more commonly called anti-Satanists, tend to argue that Satan is too stupid to be considered a hero, because his "hostility to Almighty Power" is in ultimately a futile attempt (like The power of God is almighty) (Carey, 135). CW Lewis, also an anti-Satanist, goes so far as to assert that “to admire Satan is therefore to give one's vote not only for a world of misery, but also for a world of lies and propaganda, of wishful thinking”. (Lewis, 203). Those who claim that Satan is the hero of the epic, the Satanists, perceive him as the rebel angel who rises and challenges the monarchy of God and "the tyranny of Heaven" (174). They choose to focus on Satan's "noblest qualities." , his loyalty in leadership, his fortitude in adversity, his unwavering courage and his splendid carefreeness” (Satan/Promo, 3). Although these two positions are both valid, this article will focus on a third position; individuals who believe that Satan is neither the hero nor the villain of the epic. Helen Gardner addresses this notion by asserting that “Satan is, of course, an epic character, and is by no means the hero of the epic as a whole. But he is a figure of heroic scale and energy, and is developed by Milton with dramatic emphasis and intensity” (Baker/Helen, 208). Satan is undoubtedly the antichrist, or "bad guy" in the biblical scriptures, but his alternative and more ambiguous depiction in Paradise Lost must be considered. In this article I will analyze the actions, physical representation, and speeches of Satan in Book I of Paradise Los...... middle of article ......s: The University of Minnesota Press* , 1953. Print.Hamilton Rostrevor, G*. Hero or fool? A study of Milton's Satan. London: George Allen & Unwin LTD, 1944. Print. “Paradise lost. »* The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt and MH Abrams. New York: WW Norton, 2006. *(page). Print.Lewis, CW "Satan". Milton: Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Arthur E. Barker. New York: Oxford University Press, 1965. 196-204. Print.Gardner, Helen. Milton's “Satan” and the theme of damnation in Elizabethan tragedy. » Milton: Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Arthur E. Barker. New York: Oxford University Press, 1965. 205-217. Print.Carey, John. “Milton’s Satan.” The Cambridge Companion to Milton. Ed. Dennis Danielson. ???. 1989. 131-145. Print.Werblowsky, Zwi RJ Lucifer and Prometheus: A Study of Milton's Satan. London:… 1952. Print.