Essay about Book VIII of John Milton's Paradise Lost

When I first read Milton’s story about Adam and Eve, I understood the fact that she was an original representation of women and how her actions make men in most of our history’s tales and adventures lead to the mistreatment of women through the coming ages to our present day. I believe that is why Renoir titled her essay Eve’s IQ; to question Eve’s intelligence and to show how sexiest both males and females can be in reaction toward the Genesis poem.

Milton’s Paradise Lost has been praised as being the greatest English epic of all time, most stunningly in its author's depiction of the parents of humanity, Adam and Eve. How Milton chose to portray the original mother and father has been a focus of much criticism with contemporary readers. One of the main subjects of these comments is in reference to Eve, who, according to many, is a trivial character that is most definitely inferior to her mate. Nonetheless, many do not recognize that, after the fateful Fall, she becomes a much more evolved character. When Eve is introduced to the storyline of the epic, her character is shallow and extremely undeveloped, meant simply for display. She is quite firmly set as being inferior to her mate

    The seventeenth century poet, John Milton, takes the attitude common to the time period while portraying Eve in Paradise Lost.  This epic, telling of Adam and Eve's fall from Paradise and the story of creation, constantly describes Eve as a weak individual, while Adam is often compared with God.  The idea of women's inferiority has been fixed through time, making Milton's characterization of Eve not surprising, but rather expected and accepted.  However, Milton shows a suggestion of women's inner strength while describing the control Eve has over Adam.  Nevertheless, except for this instance, Eve is depicted as subordinate to Adam.  This is evident through Adam and Raphael's treatment

A. “The allusion to pagan fable that most haunts views of Milton's Eve is her Narcissus-like behavior when, fresh from her Creator's hand, she pauses at the verge of the mirror lake attracted by her own reflection and has to be called twice: first by God, who leads her to Adam, and then, as she starts back toward the softer beauty of the face in the lake, by Adam himself.” (McColley 63).

This is mainly due to the lack of respect and attention Eve receives from Adam and the other angels. Also, it is very significant that God creates Eve from Adam’s rib making her from a man who is thought to be more dominating. Many of us have heard of the story that Satan coerced Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. But many do not realize that the most important lesson learned from her situation is you can not hide from your mistakes and you should not blame others for them. But instead, when you are respected and loved by someone, they should stay by your side and agree with your decisions. These works are very significant when it comes to love and respect for your significant other. We learn that without respect like in the case of The Wife of Bath, she will end up demanding it until she finally gets it. And in the case of Imoinda and Oroonoko, we find what seems to be the perfect couple, but their love is too strong and ends up being the death of both of them. And finally with the case of Adam and Eve, the two perfect humans actually turn out not being so perfect. But Adam stands by his love decision and supports her. Their love is an example of a true and healthy relationship and it all it took was for them to look at each other as equal and stand by one another

First, Adam is more noble, heroic, and wise than Eve which is true with almost every man and women. For instance, in the story Adam tells Eve not to eat the fruit off the tree because it is forbidden. “So various, not to taste that only tree of knowledge, planted by the tree of life,” (pg. 801-802 line 423-424). Which shows that he is more noble that she because she wanted

Artwork and creativity have been deeply ingrained in cultures around the globe since the beginning of time. Major Historic and religious figures were often portrayed in pieces of art as an expression of faith. Eve has been painted, sculpted and drawn in many ways and through several different viewpoints; these creations have shaped the opinion of Eve in different communities for thousands of years. I am asking the question, “How has the portrayal of Eve in artwork throughout history affected our modern day perception of her?”

As Eve enters the world, her first and immediate observation of herself was that she was merely an experiment. By constantly wanting to please Adam, Twain shows how Eve initially comes off as a traditional woman. However, he continues to highlight Eve’s knowledge on her environment while also emphasizing Adam’s obliviousness. Through Twain’s juxtaposition of Adam and Eve’s diary, he illustrates how “it is Eve’s experimental sense of wonder that, more than any other characteristic of the Adamic diaries, makes these monologues worthy entrants in the discussion of utopian thought and literature” (Robert 214). By taking the time to study her surroundings, Eve’s thought process reveals how she is willing to put in the effort to grow. On the

Milton wrote Paradise Lost in an attempt to explain Scripture to the masses and justify certain ways of God to the rest of mankind, and does so by focusing on the story of Genesis and Man’s Fall and expulsion from the Garden of Eden. He does so by emphasizing the flaws of human nature and the conditions that cause Adam and Eve to stray from reason. Highlighted among the factors that cause the stray is the feeling of insufficiency, as the feeling of lack drives Adam’s desires throughout the poem and make him incapable of fully obeying God’s orders. Yet at the same time there should be no lack, as Paradise is meant to be sufficient in everything. Although Paradise is meant to be a place where needs are met, built into the poem is the fundamental issue of “lack” which drives Adam’s fall and in the end is at odds with Milton’s desire to justify the ways of God to Man.

John Milton’s Paradise Lost is filled with fantastical tales from the depths of Hell, extravagant descriptions of the fallen angels, and a curious recitation of the council of demons in their new palace. How did Milton dream up such vivid depictions of such horrible demons as the ones we see in Book I? Most of his fallen angels originate in the form of Pagan gods condemned by the Bible, with actual historical backgrounds which Milton cites in his lengthy descriptions.

Paradise Lost conceives Eve as more than solely the mother of humankind and the wife of Adam. Milton 's emendation of Eve in a biblical sense alters the character from fixed as portrayed in the Bible to a more dynamic person in Paradise Lost. In doing so, Milton portrays to the reader a different and originally a more favorable perspective of Eve and her character. Conveyed through the Book of Genesis, in the Old Testament of the Bible, Eve is purely Adam 's wife who eats from the tree that God appointed as forbidden. "She

In books one, two, four and nine of Paradise Lost, Milton portrays Satan as heroic, introducing freedom and reason to the minds and lives of humanity. Satan allows his subservient fallen angels, as well as Adam and eve to recognize authority, reason and the true meaning of freedom.

Epic heroism is a category that can pertain to many different subjects considering on what they have done or been through. No matter good, bad, or evil some of these subjects can find a way to make themselves that epic hero that best fits them. An epic hero goes by the definition of, a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. This being said can make any possible being, an epic hero if that being has done what is required. In John Milton’s, “Paradise Lost”, the character of Satan presents itself as an epic hero, Milton tests that the character of Satan forces the reader to consider the possibility that Satan may actually be a hero, or at the very least, a character worth seeing in a more complex light. This along with the following examples are all showing how the character of Satan in “Paradise lost”, can be view and is viewed as an epic hero thought the novel.

Evidently, Satan’s capacity for action and his dire rebelliousness has no knowledge of limits. He is unhindered and has an irresistible will to overcome obstacles. Milton presents Satan as admirable and highlights him as a tragic hero. Through the soliloquy in Book IV, the heroism of Satan is portrayed through the elaboration of his true character. Milton portrays Satan as a self-aware and sympathetic leader who is ready to strive against all odds.

In his epic, Paradise Lost, Milton entertains the reader with his version of how one of the greatest falls of humanity occurred. Although many would consider God or Adam and Eve as the main characters in a story like this, the main character of this epic is truly Satan. Satan is shown as a strong and powerful character who is completely overwhelmed with emotions which create a type of hell in his mind; even when he is in heaven, he cannot escape his true life. Satan’s desire for vengeance on God’s creation not only unveils the personality of the protagonist but it also offers a glimpse into what the character Adam is like.