Adam and Eve's Relationship to Each Other and God in Paradise Lost

1428 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Relationship of adam and eve in paradise lost

Most certainly all theologians and readers of the Bible interpret Genesis' story of the creation of Earth's first human couple, Adam and Eve, as one of comedy-turned-tragedy, being that their blissful lives were shattered when Satan tempted Eve with the promise of knowledge by eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, the one tree in the garden that God designated as untouchable. However, Genesis does not fill-in the missing background information as to the reasons why man and woman came to be the first rational, mortal creations of God's divinity. Moreover, most believers in the Bible do not know the specific similarities and differences regarding the two humans' characteristics, and how their relationship impact each other as well as all other living creatures in the garden. These very comparisons and differentiations, upon careful reading, are made crystal-clear in the way that Milton lays out Paradise Lost Books IV, VII, and VIII.

As Christians- and any other religion relating to Christ- are told numerous times during their religious studies, or when attending Mass, that humans were created in the image and likeness of God. This testimony of a human's innate likeness and godlike image can be traced back to these lines in Book IV of Paradise Lost: "Two of far nobler shape erect and tall/ Godlike erect, with native Honor clad/ In naked Majesty seem'd Lords of all/ And worthy seem'd, for in thir looks Divine/ The image of thir glorious Maker shone" (Book IV, lines 287-291). The modeling of the first parents can be seen as a model of God's love and divinity: proving their perfections by making them flawless in flesh and spirituality, providing the necessities for their well-being, and having them mirror the roles t...

... middle of paper ...

... "Sweet converse" in the poetry and prose. [electronic version] Renascence. Milwaukee: Fall 2000. Vol. 53, Iss. 1; p. 23 (21 pages)

Kietzman, Mary Jo. The fall into conversation with Eve: Discursive difference in Paradise Lost. [electronic version] Criticism. Detroit: Winter 1997. Vol. 39, Iss. 1; p. 55 (34 pages)

Martin, Roberta C. How came I thus?: Adam and Eve in the mirror of the other. [electronic version] College Literature. West Chester: Spring 2000. Vol. 27, Iss. 2; p. 57 (23 pages)

Mikics, David. Miltonic Marriage and the Challenge to History in Paradise Lost. [electronic version] Texas Studies in Literature and Language. Austin: Spring 2004. Vol. 46, Iss. 1; p. 20 (29 pages)

Smith, Greg. Binary opposition and sexual power in Paradise Lost. [electronic version] The Midwest Quarterly. Pittsburg: Summer 1996. Vol. 37, Iss. 4; p. 383 (17 pages)

Show More
Related

  • A Separate Peace

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symbolism is very prominent over the course of this story, giving it that much more meaning. Knowles makes not only one, but several instances to religious principles and more precisely in this case, Adam and Eve. These of jealousy, greed, and selfishness are prominent throughout both stories as well is a significant fall whether it would be as monstrous as humanity or on the smaller scale of relationships. The disruption of peace and harmony are also evident in the two. In addition, it is interesting how the author finds a way to tie them all into each other.

    Read More

  • Excuses in In the Shadow of Plenty by George Grant

    473 Words  | 1 Pages

    In this book, there were no characters so I chose to write about the most interesting topic in chapter one called “excuses, excuses.” The author here explains about the very first fight between husband and wife and the excuses Adam and Eve gave to cover up their sin in the Garden of Eden. When God asked them of their crime, they tried to put the blame on each other. In all fairness neither of them lied but they did try to cover up the truth, literally. (Genesis 3) Both of their excuses were true but they were very lame. They both refused to take responsibility for their actions and lied straight to God’s face.

    Read More

  • Theme Analysis of Killings by Andre Dubus

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 2189.

    Read More

  • The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    Murphy, B. & Shirley J. The Literary Encyclopedia. [nl], August 31, 2004. Available at: http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2326. Access on: 22 Aug 2010.

    Read More

  • Heroic in Paradise Lost by John Lost

    1640 Words  | 4 Pages

    78, No. 1, pp. 21, No. 2 -. 1 (1959), 13-17. Milton, John, 'Paradise Lost', in Gordon Campbell (ed. ), Complete English Poems, of Education, Areopagitica, (Orion Publishing, London, 1998) Peter, John, A Critique of Paradise Lost, Columbia University Press: New York, 1960.

    Read More

  • A Feminist Reading of Their Eyes Were Watching God

    2158 Words  | 5 Pages

    Irigaray, Luce.  “That Sex Which is Not One.”  The Critical Tradition: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends.  Ed. David H. Richter.  Boston: Bedford Books, 1998. 1467-1471.

    Read More

  • Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem by Erich Fromm

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    Let’s go back to biblical times for just a moment. Fromm explains that during the time Adam and Eve reside in the Garden of Eden, they live in innocence and harmony. This harmony is disrupted by the “Act of Disobedience,” which is labeled in biblical terms as the “original sin.” This act of disobedience describes the first moral flaw, and the consequential corruption of mankind. By disobeying God, Adam and Eve take the first steps towards independence and freedom. This helps them reach their spiritual and intellectual capacity. After Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden, they create a new harmony referred to as “the end of days” (622). To the prophets, man is right to disobey; this allows him to think for himself. In many ways, parents encourage kids to think for themselves. By simply picking out their clothes or packing their own lunch, children move away from following their parents, and towards the formation of their own identities...

    Read More

  • The Power of Milton’s Paradise Lost

    2224 Words  | 5 Pages

    Paradise Lost is an epic poem portraying John Milton’s theological standpoints. The theme is knowledge and the fall of man. Milton uses his poem to state some of his theological beliefs and his personal reflections. Milton wrote Paradise Lost in the 17th century but uses influence from classic poets. Milton’s epic is an extremely important piece of literature. The excerpt used in this commentary takes on the subjects of sin and the punishment with regards to the atonement from God’s point of view. Milton’s states many of his own theological opinions but wants the reader to know that God is justified in everything that he does, and also wants them to know that man has free will.

    Read More

  • The Birthmark Feminist Analysis

    1408 Words  | 3 Pages

    Giacomo’s garden, like Eden, has lush greenery, has borders which keep separate the inside and outside worlds, and has its own version of Adam and Eve, who are, as Oliver Evans argues, Beatrice and Giovanni, respectively (186). Despite similarities to the original, perfect Eden, what makes Giacomo’s garden an inverse-Eden is that it is Fallen, and its Fallen state is revealed through the poisonous nature of Beatrice and the plants within. Giacomo’s garden is also like an inverse-Eden because Beatrice is Adam—for she was created by Giacomo, who appears to be playing the role of God—and Giovanni is Eve, whom Giacomo (God) finds so his Beatrice can have a mate. This gender-reversal of “Adam” and “Eve,” in addition to the poisonous plants make Giacomo’s garden like, but also not exactly like,

    Read More

  • The Elaborate Role Of Religion In British Literature

    1915 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...t, Stephen, gen. ed. “Paradise Lost.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 9th ed. Vol. 1. New York: Norton, 2012. Print. 36-39.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Milton’s Satan of Paradise Lost

    1831 Words  | 4 Pages

    Loewenstein, David A Student Guide: Milton-Paradise Lost, 2nd Edition Cambridge University Press, 1993, Second Edition 2004.

    Read More

  • Eve’s Speech to the Forbidden Tree in Milton’s Paradise Lost

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Book IX of Milton’s Paradise Lost, Eve makes a very important and revealing speech to the tree of knowledge. In it, she demonstrates the effect that the forbidden fruit has had on her. Eve’s language becomes as shameful as the nakedness that Adam and Eve would later try to cover up with fig leaves. After eating the forbidden apple, Eve’s speech is riddled with blasphemy, self-exaltation, and egocentrism.

    Read More

  • The Fallen Angels in John Milton's Paradise Lost

    2066 Words  | 5 Pages

    Milton. New York: Norton, 1957. Elledge, Scott, ed., pp. 113-117. Paradise Lost: An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Sources.

    Read More

  • Satan: The True Hero of Paradise Lost by Milton

    1622 Words  | 4 Pages

    MacCaffrey, Isabel. "Satan’s Voyage". Modern Critical Views: John Milton . Bloom, Harold, ed. Chelsea House Publishers: New York, 1986.

    Read More

  • John Milton's Paradise Lost as Christian Epic

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout Paradise Lost, Milton uses various tools of the epic to convey a traditional and very popular Biblical story. He adds his own touches to make it more of an epic and to set forth new insights into God's ways and the temptations we all face. Through his uses of love, war, heroism, and allusion, Milton crafted an epic; through his references to the Bible and his selection of Christ as the hero, he set forth a beautifully religious Renaissance work. He masterfully combined these two techniques to create a beautiful story capable of withstanding the test of time and touching its readers for centuries.

    Read More

More about Adam and Eve's Relationship to Each Other and God in Paradise Lost

Open Document