Paradise Lost has been interpreted in many different ways throughout the years. One of the most debated aspects of the text is whether or not Eve is a feminist character, and by extension whether or not Milton was a misogynist. The debates have risen over the years because of the way views of women have changed. The second wave of feminism in the 1970s heavily effected the way that Milton’s work was looked at and brought upon new interpretations of the poem. Sometimes the historical context in which Milton was writing is lost on critics and they read the text in terms of events going on today rather than when Milton was writing. A lot of the criticism draws from the relationship between Adam and Eve, and whether or not it supports a strong
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Overall, there does not seem to be one right or wrong answer to this question of feminism in regards to Eve. There is evidence to support those who say that Eve falls in line as a positively portrayed female character, and those who argue against it.
Milton’s writing in regards to Adam’s and Eve’s relationship is in keeping with the seventeen century love poetry that was prevalent when Paradise Lost was being written. The poetry of this time period was “viewed as a more or less libertine” (Kerrigan 28). This means that much of Renaissance writing revolves a man chasing a woman in pursuit of sexual pleasure, however in many of the love poems of the time period the man often acted immorally. This theme can be seen in Paradise Lost, but Adam is given morals and Eve is given more power. Milton fit the text …show more content…
He comments, “Subjection, but required with gentle sway,/And by her yielded, by him best received,/Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,/And sweet reluctant amorous delay” (Milton 4. 308-311). It is an important passage because it implies a lot about Eve ‘s character. The use of the word coy is important because it means that though she was unfallen, there is this sense that she is hiding something. Many might read the “amorous delay” as an uncomfortable suggestion that she may be reluctant and not fully consenting to Adam’s advances, but the word had different meaning in Milton’s time. In fact, a popular reading of the passage suggests that she is toying with Adam for sexual reasons and because she has a higher intellect than some readers pick up on. That she had learned the “erotic value of modesty and withholding” that was a common feature in the “love hunt” poetry of Milton’s time (Kerrigan 41). In a way the delay that Eve employs is Milton’s way of portraying a temptation, however this temptation is eventually rewarded. The reasoning behind this idea is that Adam and Eve do not have sex until the end of the day after all the work is done. Another delay in their sexual relationship, but as a result sex is the gift given for their
Overall, there does not seem to be one right or wrong answer to this question of feminism in regards to Eve. There is evidence to support those who say that Eve falls in line as a positively portrayed female character, and those who argue against it.
Milton’s writing in regards to Adam’s and Eve’s relationship is in keeping with the seventeen century love poetry that was prevalent when Paradise Lost was being written. The poetry of this time period was “viewed as a more or less libertine” (Kerrigan 28). This means that much of Renaissance writing revolves a man chasing a woman in pursuit of sexual pleasure, however in many of the love poems of the time period the man often acted immorally. This theme can be seen in Paradise Lost, but Adam is given morals and Eve is given more power. Milton fit the text …show more content…
He comments, “Subjection, but required with gentle sway,/And by her yielded, by him best received,/Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,/And sweet reluctant amorous delay” (Milton 4. 308-311). It is an important passage because it implies a lot about Eve ‘s character. The use of the word coy is important because it means that though she was unfallen, there is this sense that she is hiding something. Many might read the “amorous delay” as an uncomfortable suggestion that she may be reluctant and not fully consenting to Adam’s advances, but the word had different meaning in Milton’s time. In fact, a popular reading of the passage suggests that she is toying with Adam for sexual reasons and because she has a higher intellect than some readers pick up on. That she had learned the “erotic value of modesty and withholding” that was a common feature in the “love hunt” poetry of Milton’s time (Kerrigan 41). In a way the delay that Eve employs is Milton’s way of portraying a temptation, however this temptation is eventually rewarded. The reasoning behind this idea is that Adam and Eve do not have sex until the end of the day after all the work is done. Another delay in their sexual relationship, but as a result sex is the gift given for their