# Satan — Poetry character guide

> Satan in Poetry by James Weldon Johnson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Old Satan

**First appearance:** 0071-the-judgment-day

## Snapshot

A devilish, friendly tempter who brings Eve a looking-glass and a laugh, then watches sin multiply until God regrets making man.

## Who they are

Satan opens with a compliment — 'Eve, you're surely good looking' — and works his way from flattery to the forbidden fruit with a devilish little laugh. He is less a cosmic adversary than a conversational one, and the poem's warning is plain: 'Don't ever get friendly with Satan.' His brief, seductive scene sets the whole arc of fall, flood, and judgment in motion.

## Relationships

### [Noah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/noah)

_rivalry_

Noah is tested by Satan's temptations and opposition during the flood narrative.

### [Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/eve)

_psychological_

Satan manipulates Eve in the Garden, leading to the fall of humanity.

### [Adam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/adam)

_rivalry_

Satan tempts Adam through Eve, making them adversaries in the fall narrative.

### [Noah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/noah)

_rivalry_

Noah is tested by Satan's temptations and opposition during the flood narrative.

## In the story

### [The White Witch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-white-witch)

The white witch embodies a seductive, demonic temptation that lures and destroys.

### [And the Greatest of These Is War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/and-the-greatest-of-these-is-war)

Presides over the council of Hell and crowns War as the chief scourge of humanity.

### [Listen Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/listen-lord)

Referred to as 'the devil' and 'old hell,' the adversary from whom protection is sought.

### [Noah Built the Ark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/noah-built-the-ark)

Satan appears as a snake in the grass, deceiving Eve into eating the forbidden fruit and introducing sin into the world.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/satan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters