The Role Of Women In Paradise Lost By John Milton

In Paradise Lost, John Milton uses the character of Eve to argue that women are created to be intellectually inferior to men but upon realizing they are inferior women will fight back until they return to submission. From the first mention of man and woman in his poem, Milton immediately asserts that the function of a woman is to submit to her husband. Prior to the fall of man, Eve’s submission to Adam is continually emphasized. This emphasis begins with the very first mention of Adam and Eve. The narrator discusses the purposes Adam and Eve appear to be made for as well as Adam and Eve’s hair. While Adam’s hair is long but does not go past his shoulders, Eve’s hair goes down to her waist and “Her unadorned golden tresses wore // Disheveled,

Eve is happy living inferior to Adam because of her strong love for him. As Satan observes the first humans whom he intends to corrupt, he notes that they are “linked in happy nuptial league,” (Milton IV.339). This indicates that both Adam and Eve are happy being together. Furthermore, after Eve tells Adam the story of her birth, “with eyes // Of conjugal attraction unreproved, // And meek surrender, half embracing leaned // On our first father,” (Milton IV.492-495). Eve leans and embraces her husband out of love after explaining to Adam how she came into existence to find him waiting for her. After this story, Adam suggests that they rest during the night, to which Eve replies “‘My author and disposer, what thou bidd’st // Unargued I obey; so God ordains, // God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more // Is woman’s happiest knowledge and her praise,’” (Milton IV.635-638). Eve explains to Adam how she will do whatever he tells her without question because it is what God wants and to not question what Adam or God says is a source of happiness for her as a woman. Eve’s submission is voluntary based on her love for Adam and is consequently happy with her role in the

Moreover, Eve will ultimately suffer more than Adam. After they eat the forbidden fruit, the Son of God goes to earth to deliver their punishments. For Adam, he must grow his own food in an arduous process and will die, as will Eve. However, the Son of God also tells Eve “‘Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply // By thy conception; children shalt bring // In sorrow forth, and to thy husband’s will // Thine shall submit, he over thee shall rule,’” (Milton X.193-196). Although Adam’s punishment is going to make his life difficult and full of pain, Eve is now being told directly that she is inferior and must submit to Adam as well as endure unbearable amounts of pain during childbirth in addition to death. Even though Eve did convince Adam to eat the fruit with her, he knew what he was doing so he is equally at fault as Eve is, yet Eve is the one to receive a harsher punishment. After their punishments have been delivered, Adam tells Eve “‘Out of my sight, thou serpent, that name best // Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false // And hateful,’” (Milton X.867-869). Adam knows that Eve is clearly upset and wants to help, but rather than trying to comfort her so that they can work through their new problems together, he tells her to go away because she is like the Devil. Even though he consciously ate the fruit, knowing