Eve's Loss Of Innocence In Paradise Lost

Logical solutions may often lead to dire consequences. In “Book IX” of Paradise Lost, Milton describes Eve as logical and sinful through his dark descriptions; nonetheless, her obliviousness and naivety are constantly referenced even after eating the apple. Knowledge and logic can most often guide people towards danger and harm.
Eve’s sin, while fully understood with knowledge, is first depicted when she eats the fruit. Milton expresses Eve’s sin through her eating the apple extremely gluttonously and lustfully: “greedily” and “without restraint.” This unintentional gluttony proves as reminder of the evil she is working for and contrasts with her previous innocent demeanor. After eating the apple, Eve is depicted as eloquent and knowledgeable; however, it is suggested that Eve might enjoy the fruit simply “through expectation high of knowledge,” that she might have not enjoyed the fruit as passionately had it not been suggested. Eve’s lost innocence and naivety are once again invoked in the speaker’s declaration that she “knew not eating death.” Although she …show more content…
Despite her apparent eloquence and knowledge, Eve is still oblivious to the consequences of her crime. After eating the fruit, she continues to embrace her sin by glorifying and comparing herself “in knowledge.” She only worsens her sin by declaring that God envies her and her new gift. Eve’s love for Adam is then put into question: while she cares for him and wants nothing more than his happiness, she is lulled towards the idea of being “superior; for, inferior, who is free.” Her rationalization, while exposing her logic, only leads her to circle around until she decides to doom the one she loves most; however, it is because of her deep love that “with him all deaths (she) could endure, without him live no life.” While Eve loves Adam and wishes to spend all their lives together, she sacrifices his purity and