Paradise Lost/Genesis Essay (needs to be at least 650 words)

Intro - 158 words -

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, tells the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first sin, and the fall of man. Paradise Lost is an epic written by John Milton and is a retelling of the original story of the fall of Adam and Eve. Since Paradise Lost is based off of the classic Bible story, there is bound to be major similarities. A couple of the most notable being the connections to both shame and pride. John Milton took the creative liberty to radically expand on the classic story's length, which in turn comes with its differences. One of which being the more detailed and connected relationship between Adam and Eve. A second noteworthy difference is the inclusion of Satan's inner thoughts and feelings. Both the Bible and Paradise Lost cover pride and shame, but the lengthy retelling differs from the Bible with the inclusion of Adam and Eve's relationship and with Satan's perspective.

Similarity #1: Shame - 221 words

The first similarity is the feeling of shame brought up in both stories. Before and after the fall, whether Adam and Eve feel shame is mentioned. Before the fall, after Adam and Eve are created, the Bible discloses that they "were both naked, and they felt no shame"(Genesis). The lack of shame is directly corelated to being naked. Adam and Eve exhibit innocence and ignorant bliss though this way. But after they are stripped of their innocence by eating the forbidden fruit, they feel shame for what they have done. In a desperate attempt, they struggled to hide their shame by clothing themselves. In Paradise Lost, even with their pursuit to be rid of their shame, they still had an inner turmoil, "Thus fenc't, and as they thought, thir shame in part Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind, They sate them down to weep, nor onely Teares Raind at thir Eyes"(Milton, Book IX). This intense guilt that besieges them causes them to dispute and fall apart. Furthermore, in both stories, their shame causes them to hide from God when he visits the garden. Milton kept this parallel as it is a major plot point, and his elaboration on it can make Adam and Eve easier to relate to as everyone feels some guilt and regret for their actions.

Similarity #2: Pride - 198 words

Another major similarity between the two stories is Eve's pride. In each story Eve's pride is twisted by Satan, causing her to eat the forbidden fruit. In Paradise Lost, the couple were warned beforehand of an enemy to humankind. Hearing this, the prideful Eve becomes insistent on proving herself by venturing without her husband through the garden. Though Adam pleaded, Eve pleaded more, "A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek, So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse" (Book IX). With her eagerness to reject the enemy's attempt, and Adam's faith and love for his wife, Adam against his better judgement lets Eve go. This will soon prove to be a grave mistake, as Eve is then tricked into indulging herself on the forbidden fruit. In the Bible, the serpent extorts Eve by telling her "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis). Eve hearing that she can be like God, then satiates her pride by eating the fruit. Milton keeps this aspect in Eve to show how in almost every case, pride is the downfall of man.

Difference #1: Adam and Eve’s detailed relationship - 286 words

The first and most drastic difference between Paradise Lost and Genesis is the extensive elaboration of the relationship of Adam and Eve. In the Bible right after Eve was created for Adam, the serpent tricks Eve. "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”"(Genesis). This is directly after she is made. In complete contrast to this, Milton's Paradise Lost gives an entirely new point of view of the couple. The audience learns of their incredible bond and immense love for each other. "From all her words and actions mixt with Love And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule; Harmonie to behold in wedded pair" (Book VIII). This is an excerpt of Adam proclaiming his love and faith for Eve to the Angel. Milton's addition to the original provides an entirely new perspective on their relationship. However, that wasn't the only inclusion. This loving relationship becomes tragic when the audience must bear witness to Adam and Eve, an once innocent and gleeful couple, become filled with hate and anger towards each other after their fall. But the reconciliation between the two and their realization of how they only have God and each other makes for a bittersweet ending. Milton's rendition of the original story sets a more realistic tone for the two, showing that even the world's first perfect couple fought with each other; setting hope for the audience with the notion that everyone makes mistakes, and by forgiving one another can make for a better tomorrow and a stronger bond.

Difference #2: Satan’s Perspective - 193 words

Another evident difference is the inclusion of Satan's perspective. In Genesis it isn't given why or what he was thinking in some of those moments, but in Paradise Lost it does. "Me miserable! which way shall I flie Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire? Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell;" (Milton, Book IV). When Satan first scouts out Eden to continue his devious scheme to induce the fall of mankind, he witnesses the pure innocent bliss that Adam and Eve enjoy. Seeing them makes him nostalgic of his time in heaven and fills him with regret that he rebelled and is now tortured by the false pride he previously showed his comrades. Contrariwise, the Bible's closest look into the character was that the "serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made" (Genesis). The most that can be inferred here is Satan selected the creature as he felt synonymous with its nature, other than that, nothing else is given. Milton likely introduced this unprecedented perspective to showcase Satan's understanding of his lack of supremacy, that he rebelled, and its costly price can never be compensated.

Conclusion - 213 words

One final observation can unveil that even with Paradise Lost's similarities of pride and shame, its differences in the relationship of Adam and Eve and Satan's perspective provide the audience with a different takeaway from the original source. Despite the overall outcome of each story to be uniform, Milton's Paradise Lost tugs at one's heartstrings with its tragedy and bittersweet ending. With such an expanded narrative, multiple interpretations are guaranteed. One plausible interpretation can connect Eve's acknowledgment of her wrongdoing, and Satan's acknowledgement. They both recognize their sin, but their response is the difference between the path of good and evil. Eve grovels and begs Adam to forgive her and wishes to take full accountability for her actions in hopes of Adam staying in Eden. Even though she is forgiven, neither of them gets to stay in Eden. But with this forgiveness, Eve can rest assured that in her troubled times she can look to God and Adam for love and guidance. Contrariwise, Satan acknowledges his sin, acknowledges his regret, but continues his sinister scheme to befall mankind. His twisted pride only sends him further down a path of misery. With such an elaborate narrative, there is even more to be deciphered by the audience, as opposed to the shorter length of Genesis.