Sample Essay - Don John and Satan (2)

The idea of evil is a recurring motif in literature. Nearly every antagonist is depicted as evil in some way, albeit to varying degrees. However, it is rare to find a character that is pure evil, who does bad things for the sake of doing bad things. The characters of Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost and Don John is Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing are very interesting characters to examine because they both depict the face of evil in its purest form. Looking at the attitudes, motives, and actions of these characters exemplifies how fundamentally similar they are, and thus offers valuable insights into the nature of evil itself.

Don John and Satan both possess the same attitude in that they are prideful and
envious. In Much Ado About Nothing, Don John tells one of his lackeys that "(he) had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace.". This parallels Satan when he says that it is "better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heaven" (263). These words accentuate the unconquerable pride these two villains possess, as they would prefer to live a life of desalination than live under their respective Kings. They feel entitled to a life above all others and envy they power and authority of the highest office in the land: the throne. This is seen again in Satan's line: "That Glory never shall... Extort from me. To now and sue for grace" (110-111).

Both Satan and Don John are motivated by wrath and malice. Satan conspires with his minions, saying "(let us) consult how we may hence forth mot offend Our Enemy" (187-188). Similarly, Don John delightedly questions the subject of Claudio's marriage when he asks if it "will...serve for my model to build mischief on." In both cases, the motivation is simply to strike back at God and Don Pedro in any way possible. Don John reiterates this when he says that "any bar, any cross, any impediment will be medicinable to me" and that "only to despite (Pedro and Claudio), (he) will endeavor my thing.". He possesses such hate and malice that even the slightest offense will please his. This is just like Satan when he resolve never to do good simply because evil is the opposite of God.

These two evil characters have both failed to win prominence through military actions,
so they attempt to lie and twist the truth to defeat their foes. In both cases they attack those closest to their true enemy (Claudio's marriage in Don John's case and humanity in Satan's) rather than the enemy himself.

These characters are personifications of evil, and thus faces of the same entity. Their stories illustrate the truth that evil is a parasite. It merely corrupts the work of good and twists it in the wrong direction. Evil is incapable of creating things of its own.