Comparing the Fall of Man in Eve Speaks and Miltons Paradise Lost :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Fall of Man in eve Speaks and Paradise LostOver the course of time, there have been many interpretations of mans fall from grace, as told by the Bible. Among the literary interpretations are those of John Miltons Paradise Lost and the American poet Louis Untermeyers even Speaks. John Miltons epic poem deals with the entire story of mans fall from grace, including context for Satans motives. Louis Untermeyers Eve Speaks was written about Eves thoughts, many years after she was forced to leave Eden. While both poems are derived from the same biblical root, they offer contrasting interpretations of mans fall through Eves motives, her attitude toward Adam, and her attitude toward her sin. In Paradise Lost, Eve was tricked by Satan, who assumed the form of a serpent, into eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Satan had mouth into her ear when she was asleep, and when he spoke to her later, he used his cunning to mislead her He ended, and his words replete with guileInto her heart too easy intrigue won.Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregnedWith reason, to her seeming, and with truth(Paradise Lost, 733-739).Louis Untermeyers interpretation of Eves motives in Eve Speaks, were very different intheir implications. He suggests that Eve was not tricked by Satan, but instead she made aconscious decision to eat the proscribe fruit. Eve thought that man was created for morethan living in Paradise She was seeking for a greater world The thought that there wassomething more than joy, beyond perfection, greater than singing peace And tranquilhappiness, vexed all my hours. (Eve Speaks 31-34)Eve reached these conclusions through the traits that she perceived in Adam. He was strongand had a hotshot designed to dream and mould. According to Eve, he was designed forfiercer things and lustier worlds. Another glaring dissimilarity between the two poems was the in which Eve perceived Adam. Miltons Eve felt inferior to Adam When Eve was trying to decide whether or not to share the apple with Adam, one of her reasons for not sharing was so that she could be his equal, if not his superior. After she gave the apple to Adam, her demeanor turned even more submissive. This was in agreement with the traditional 17th century view of women. Louis Untermeyer gave Eve a more domineering position In Eve Speaks, Eve acts for the