"Eve's Apology in Defense of Women"
He never sought her weakeness to reprove, (805)
With those sharp words, which he of God did hear:
Yet Men will boast of Knowledge, which he took
From Eve's fair hand, as from a learned Book.
(Lanyer, "Eve's Apology," charlesyoungs.com)
The implication is that although each had a part in the sin, and Adam did not blame Eve for "her weakness," man still goes on to "boast of knowledge... from Eve's fair hand." Man's knowledge of Good and Evil, the basis for all moral and ethical systems, is biblically a direct result of Eve's actions, but today it is not seen as a sin in itself; that is, the knowledge is not a sin, but the disobeying of God was the sin. We are proud of our moral and ethical codes, but without …show more content…
Though Lanyer lived when the world frowned upon women writers, she managed to be "one of the few published woman poets of the Renaissance" (p 1059). This fact of such a great accomplishment for a woman in the world did not, however, changes the forms in which it was acceptable for a woman to write. Therefore, because Lanyer was limited to write in the form of a journal, letter or devotation, her cry for sexual equality needed to be disguised in one of these forms. Thus, as a devotation to God, Aemilia Lanyer pushed her work to new heights within a feminist point of view. To accomplish this push, while staying within the accepted forms of women's writing, Lanyer discusses a few important biblical events. The earliest of said events being the fall of Adam and Eve from the grace of God. Another of Lanyer's topics is the sentencing and crucifixion of Christ by Pilate. Also while speaking on Pilate, Lanyer mentions Saul, who sought the death of David, however briefly. Aemilia Lanyer has provided a very strong argument, within the confines of her society, for the reasons why women deserve and have earned the right to equality with
He never sought her weakeness to reprove, (805)
With those sharp words, which he of God did hear:
Yet Men will boast of Knowledge, which he took
From Eve's fair hand, as from a learned Book.
(Lanyer, "Eve's Apology," charlesyoungs.com)
The implication is that although each had a part in the sin, and Adam did not blame Eve for "her weakness," man still goes on to "boast of knowledge... from Eve's fair hand." Man's knowledge of Good and Evil, the basis for all moral and ethical systems, is biblically a direct result of Eve's actions, but today it is not seen as a sin in itself; that is, the knowledge is not a sin, but the disobeying of God was the sin. We are proud of our moral and ethical codes, but without …show more content…
Though Lanyer lived when the world frowned upon women writers, she managed to be "one of the few published woman poets of the Renaissance" (p 1059). This fact of such a great accomplishment for a woman in the world did not, however, changes the forms in which it was acceptable for a woman to write. Therefore, because Lanyer was limited to write in the form of a journal, letter or devotation, her cry for sexual equality needed to be disguised in one of these forms. Thus, as a devotation to God, Aemilia Lanyer pushed her work to new heights within a feminist point of view. To accomplish this push, while staying within the accepted forms of women's writing, Lanyer discusses a few important biblical events. The earliest of said events being the fall of Adam and Eve from the grace of God. Another of Lanyer's topics is the sentencing and crucifixion of Christ by Pilate. Also while speaking on Pilate, Lanyer mentions Saul, who sought the death of David, however briefly. Aemilia Lanyer has provided a very strong argument, within the confines of her society, for the reasons why women deserve and have earned the right to equality with