William Blake\'s Painting \"Binding Satan

William Blake's Painting "Binding Satan from Heaven"

William Blake's "Binding Satan from Heaven"

The battle of good and evil is a constant struggle seen in religions all over the world. Within Christianity it is represented between the fight between God and his former right hand man, Satan. The painting by William Blake represents Satan's loss and banishment out of heaven, but also the representation of Satan as a dangerous monster who is responsible for the sins of mankind. With Arch Angel Michael's restraint of the monster, we as men are one step closer to regaining the grace of God.

Within the Bible, Satan proves to be the direct cause of all of humanity's grief and despair. He is the reason good Christians are tempted into sinning, starting from the very beginning. Satan was the one responsible for the first sins of Adam and Eve, who were then banished from the Garden of Eden. He is mankind's most dangerous enemy in disguise, and therefore we are all in need of protection from his treachery. His representation in Blake's painting is ugly and monstrous. This is meant to portray his evil and vile nature, along with to strike fear in the hearts of men with his image. The more vile and beast-like Satan is represented, the less we remember that he was at first an angelic figure -- the right hand of God.

This image of Satan is very rarely produced in Christian art, and is not represented here in Blake's painting; however we all must remember that Satan was once a top angel. With his fall from heaven an grace, he disgraced himself and was then represented as a monster, a hideous beast. Satan's rebellion against God caused his disposition from heaven and fall into hell. When he spoke out against God, he took up arms against His word. Afterwards, his place in the world was to constantly attempt to re-injure the God who had banished him. One of his greatest successes was the fall of mankind through Adam and Eve's first sin. The fall of mankind corrupted the natural world, including human nature, which then caused people to be born into sin. This is the cause of our pain, hatred, deaths, and suffering. The fall of Satan represents one of the most profound changes in human existence.

Yet, in Blake's painting, he is being restrained by the Arch Angel Michael; therefore giving humanity hope of once again reaching to God's grace. Michael binds him in chains as a way to keep him out of heaven and away from God. This is a tireless struggle, as seen in the action conveyed in Blake's painting. With this action, Michael is also protecting the human race from some of Satan's vices. Thus, Michael, who is also the angel of death, comes to represent mankind's guardian in the battle against good and evil. Although only chained and not dead, Satan is subdued. This gives temporary relief to heaven and earth, along with representing the idea that God and his companions will always be there for mankind in their own struggle against the temptation and evil which arises out of the image and figure of Satan himself.