Theme Of Characters In Paradise Lost

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The Distortion of Characters and Their Roles in the Fall
In Paradise Lost Book 9, Milton presents a twisted and amplified account of what happened at the fall according to biblical accounts. Albeit, there are similar overall themes such as temptation, desire for knowledge, rebellion, and blame, the overall tone of the story varies indefinitely. Paradise Lost Book 9 and the biblical account of Adam and Eve’s fall contain many of the same characters, and similar events take place, however they happen in contrasting ways and result in dissimilar things. Milton’s distorted version of the fall has major differences in the depiction of Satan and the portrayal of Adam and Eve’s characters, both of which have a wide range of implications.
Milton’s …show more content…

In the bible, Adam and Eve are seen as more equal beings, though Eve is tempted, she is not necessarily seen as any worse than Adam, and Adam seems to have no real recognition that what Eve is doing is wrong. In Paradise Lost Eve is the gullible, rash, and selfish one, whereas Adam is intelligent, discerning, and selfless. Eve can almost be fully faulted as the culprit in this endeavor, and Adam is just along for the ride due to his undying love for her. The serpent recognizes Eve as the weak one by saying “behold alone/ The woman, opportune to all attempts” (Milton, 480-481). Furthermore, it is Adam who recognizes the depravity and depths of what Eve has done and he recognizes it immediately “soon as he heard/ The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, / Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill/ Ran through his veins” (Milton, 889-891). He chooses to eat the fruit due to his love for her and his inability to fathom being apart from her, not because of ignorance. The result of them eating the fruit does not immediately open their eyes to the knowledge of good and evil, instead they have sex and revel in their actions. It is not until later on that they are hit with what has really been done and the implications it will have for them. The conversation held between Adam and Eve ends on a sour note for Eve as Adam says “Him who to worth in women …show more content…

Milton’s depictions do not necessarily conflict with the Bible so much as add to or stray away from what the original text offers. By allowing Satan more power and more position in the story as well as painting Eve as the higher culprit, a very different feel is given off to the reader. The bible offers a much more balanced view of man and woman. By attributing more culpability to Eve, this may lead to many viewing women as the weak links, or the truly sinful ones, since Adam is portrayed as the stronger, wiser, and more selfless individual. Although Milton seems to believe that Eve is the one at fault, the question of who is to blame is an ongoing search, and perhaps it is in

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