Go Eve!!

I do realize that it’s been a while since I’ve written one of these, my apologies. I do have some thoughts on Book 9, which happens to be my favorite out of the entire book so far. I’ll start where Adam and Eve have an intellectual discussion regarding their protection.

On pages 205 to 207, Adam and Eve each go back and forth discussing Satan. I’m not quoting anything in particular because I’m just talking about those three pages. Eve is worried that Satan will find a way to tempt them and eat from the Tree of Knowledge, because he is the one thing that they are not protected from. Adam is not concerned, believing that their situation is just a test of their faith. He has complete trust in God and His protection, but Eve knows that Satan may target her first since she is seen as weaker.

I think Eve’s passage brings some depth to her character because she is actually challenging Adam, someone who is above her. Before we see very traditional gender roles between the two characters, and Milton’s portrayal of Eve is not much to be reckoned with. Here she is actually voicing her concerns and does not back down because she knows what is going to happen. She knew Satan was going to go for the weaker first, and indeed he did wait until she was alone to talk to her.

“…May find us both far less prepared
The willinger I go, nor much expect
A foe so proud will first the weaker seek” (9: 381-383).

Her resistance to Adam’s view points out a type of strength in her character that was underestimated before. Eve was viewed as just vain and nurturing, but this is proving that she actually is her own character. Because this is Milton’s poem and not directly from the Bible, did this conversation actually happen biblically or is it entirely of Milton’s creation? Eve is still seen as the “weaker”, but had she been given the same amount of briefing that Adam had had, and was treated equally from the start, then maybe she would not have been tempted by Satan, or at least as easily. Satan’s arguments were very logistical and sounded very intelligent; something it seems that Eve is not used to hearing. What she hears is mostly through Adam, who is also a simpler being. Satan’s standpoint was very tempting because he was speaking to Eve like God or Raphael would speak to Adam; reassuring and knowledgeable.