Thinking activity on Paradise Lost

Thinking activity on Paradise Lost by John Milton

                        

   Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by John Milton. This poem based on the biblical story of the fall of man. In this poem we find something different than bible book.

1. Write a critique on the character of Eve.

Character of Eve is the most important character. Eve is the first woman created by god. Milton has presented character of Eve in some different way than Bible.we als find some vast different between character of Eve in Bible and Milton's Eve. Eve is very beautiful woman and also wise, able and more intelligent than the Adam. When Satan see her in first time for a while he forget about his revenge. Eve is physically more attractive than Adam. Hence, Satan overcome by her beauty but she is not as strong physically or intellectually as Adam and she seduced by Satan and eats the fruit of knowledge.

 

            

First she wants to become more knowledgeable than Adam so she decides that not to tell about this fruit to Adam but , after she become afraid that if God will angry about her this act and curse her for her disobedience then Adam will remain and she will cursed.so after she decides to tell about it to Adam and temps him also but when Adam makes some argument about this forbidden fruit at that time she says:
This tree is not, as we are told, a tree if danger tasted, not to evil unknown opening the way, but if Devine effect to open eyes, and make them Gods Who taste; And hath been tasted such.

She deserves all Praise for her beauty and she is beloved of Adam. Milton has portrayed weakness of women through the character of Eve. Milton has portrayed Eve weaker than Adam. She easily tempted by satan. She is superior than Adam only in her beauty.Eve is certainly not a feminist heroine. Milton shows role of women in society during his time.

2. Whose arguments did you find more convincing ??

In Milton’s paradise lost book IX, there are three characters more lively:

(1). Eve

(2). Adam

(3). Satan
God’s character We find as a minor character. According to my point of view Adam’s argument is more convincing, because Eve is easily tempted by satan than Adam. We find Eve’s character as weaker than Adam. So satan decides to tempt or deceipt her than Adam. As like Eve , Adam was also alone but satan find Eve is better for his aim than Adam. When Eve tell Adam that they can do more work if they work separately. Adam knows what Eve is more likely to be tricked by satan so, he argues against separation:

"Compare above all living creatures dear!
Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts imployed
How we might best fulfill the work which here
God hath assigned us, nor of me shalt pass
Unpraised; for nothing a lovelier can be foun
In woman than to study household good,
And good works in her husband to promote”.

He can’t easily accept her argument for separation. But after some debate he yields to Eve’s argument, not because her argument is better but, he does not want to hurt her feeling. Always Adam shows the proper respect and relationship in graceful speech and manners.

After when Eve comes to Adam and force him to eat fruit at that time also Adam makes argument with Eve and feels grief for their separation.

But then  Adam becomes emotional with her charm and eats the fruit of the tree of knowledge because he bear to be without Eve. He understands Eve’s sin in eating the apple, but he ignores his reason and eats because of his love and desire for Eve. When Adam tells Raphael that Eve’s beauty affects him so much: that what she wills to do or say, seems wisest, discreetness, best and virtuosest.

At the end Adam’s attitude toward Eve leads directly to his fall.

If I want to say that instead of being emotional with Eve’s argument Adam should be make more argument and it is not necessary for him to eat a fruit. Due to his this mistake his falls happens.we find Adam’s argument with Eve and so I find that Adam’s argument is more convincing according to my point of view.

3. How do you look at Divine perspective in the Genesis of The Holy Bible and Human perspective in the John Milton's Book IX ?

All those stories in mainly The Holy Bible (scriptures)

Which were said from the Divine perspective were retold from human perspective some of the narratives seemed telling the stories from the divine perspective, but actually they were not.

We will take review of 'Genesis' from the holy bible and Book IX from paradise lost. John Milton proposed in 'Argument' to 'justly' the ways of god to men. In fact, he moves on the justify '(Hu)man's ways in this world.

In Genesis, the 'fall' is narrated from God's perspective. Obviously God is the center of Bible. The character of Eve and Adam are flat, lifeless and mere puppet. They do not have any emotion or feeling or voice. The Satan or serpent tempted Eve, Eve tempted Adam and the fall happened. God emerged and published all three. Many questions remained unanswered in the God's justice.

          

            If Eve is to be punished for her 'disobedience', why should her children also be cursed: "I wil put enmity between.... Your seed and her seed."(God). To curse Eve to multiply her pain in childbearing is not fair way to pu ish her.

"I will greatly multiply your plan in childbearing; in pain your shall bring forth children yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."(God)

The entire story of Genesis is quite obviously, God centric. It is narrated from Divine perspective. It does not take care of Adam or Eve or Serpent's perspective.

When we come to John Milton's Paradise Lost (Book IX), we realise that the same story is told from Human Perspective seemingly, it tries to justly ways of God to man, whereas, in reality, it retells the story from Human Perspective.

      Firstly, Eve is responsible for disobedience and thus fall of man. Her wily act is that of touching and tasting the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Nevertheless, she is presented with an intention to act. This giving an intention to act is where Milton brings in human perspective.


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