Adam vs. Adam

As I was reading Good Omens, I wondered if there were supposed to be certain parallels between Adam in Paradise Lost and Adam in Good Omens. Adam in Paradise Lost was the first human ever created, hence being the start of the creation of mankind. Adam in Good Omens is supposed to be the anti-Christ, and is ironically supposed to be the downfall and elimination of mankind. Funny then, that the anti-Christ is named Adam.

However, both him and Eve in Paradise lost were tempted and damned the human race to a life full of sin and mortality. So, both Adams have a downfall effect, but their purpose for existing is supposed to be the opposite of each other. Adam in Paradise Lost was supposed to spark population, growth, and the creation of eventual angel replacements in Heaven. He was born an adult, and was considered innocent until temptation. Adam in Good Omens is a child, and is meant to bring down mankind. His existence is supposed to be a sign that he will one day destroy every life form on earth (had he, of course, had gone to the right home). He is supposed to bring on the Apocalypse.

But Adam in the Them seems to be more of a leader and an adventurous child than the anti-Christ. This is probably due to the fact that he went to the wrong home and isn’t raised to bring the destruction of mankind. Adam in Paradise Lost was also considered a leader, because the only other person he had was Eve and he was there first. Both Adams play a more dominant role within their social groups. Starting on page 206 in Good Omens, Adam is leading a conversation amongst his friends about witches, even putting down some of hat his friend’s say, insisting that he’s correct.

“That’s where you’re wrong”, said Adam. “It’s not the Devil. It’s another god, or something. With horns”

“The Devil”, said Brian

“No”, said Adam patiently. “People just got ‘em mixed up. He’s just got horns similar. He’s called Pan. He’s half a goat” (pg 206).

And Adam in Paradise Lost is undoubtedly a leader of Eden. He has reign over all of the animals, and even Eve was created from him. While both him and her are different, and fulfill different purposes, he still has more power, or at least is expected to fulfill more expectations.

While both Adams roles are meant to be the exact opposite of each others, they do posses similar personality traits. Along with their leadership, the fact that Adam in Paradise Lost is an adult, and Adam in Good Omens is a child makes their demeanors even more interesting to look at. Before the fall, Adam was very much childlike in Paradise Lost. Him and Eve were innocent, and led very simplistic lives. Adam often spoke with the Angels and God for guidance and general knowledge about what he did not know. Children are also not born with general knowledge, and must ask adults to learn about what they do not know. Adam in Good Omens is a child at this point, and in so being just as similar. However, this Adam seems relatively self-sufficient, and evidence of his caretakers is not evident within the text. Where Adam in Paradise Lost is like a child, the Adam in Good Omens is very similar to an adult. He does not seems as naïve as a child would be.

Both Adams characters seem to opposite each others more than they reflect them.