For Satan, Hell is a state of mind.  A state of misery and torment.  No matter which way Satan chooses to fly, there is no escaping Hell.  ìThe mind is its own place.î  (1:254) This ìplaceî is by no means enjoyable for Satan, for Hell is painful.  He is no longer simply in physical pain when he is in the geographical location of Hell, Satan exclaims, ìmyself am Hellî and he brings this Hell wherever he goes.  Hell is punishment for turning away from God, and since it is a state of mind for Satan, there is no escaping it.

The anaphora of the word ìHellî stresses the state in which Satan is in, ìwhich way I fly is Hellî (4:75) and ìmyself am Hell.î (4:75) Once again there is no escaping this state Satan is experiencing.  He is in a state of Hell choosing which was to fly; he is Hell, and either place he chooses Hell will follow.  This state of mind is due in part to the punishment Satan is living with; Hell will forever be a part of him.

Milton describes hell as "a universe of death...where all life dies, death lives."  (2:622-24)  

 

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