There is an interesting difference between the way in
which Satan refers to God and the way in which Beelzebub, his second-in-command refers
to God. Let us look at the beginning of their conversation to show this. Satan opens
refering to God as "the potent Victor in his rage" and then only goes on to refer to him
as "him," refusing to name him or give him the respect that it his due. Note the
following example:
To bow and sue for
grace
With suppliant knee, and deify his
power
Who from the terror of this arm so
late
Doubted his empire, that were low
indeed...
It is as if Satan
continues in his rejection of God after the failure of his rebellion. He refuses to
acknowledge the power and authority that God has and has amply demonstrated through his
victory over Satan.
However, by contrast, Beelzebub clearly
seems to recognise the authority of God, as he refers to God as being "Heave'n's
perpetual King" and tells his "Prince" that God has shown himself to be supreme through
his victory:
But what if he our Conqueror, (whom I
now
Of force believe Almighty, since no
less
Than such could have o'erpow'red such force as
ours)...
Beelzebub clearly
regards God in a different way, that reflects his understanding of his new position and
the way in which he and his fellow angels were vanquished by God's
angels.
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