All of the women Milton likens Eve to are Greek goddesses who suffered evil fates. For example, Pomona, was the goddess of orchards who was tricked into falling in love with the god Vertumnus. By using Pomona, Milton both uses her to foreshadow Eve’s eventual downfall but to also alludes to the Forbidden Tree’s fruit. Similarly, Proserpina is the daughter of Ceres who is kidnapped and taken to the Underworld. After she eats six pomegranate seeds, another fruit born from a tree, she is condemned to the Underworld just as Even will be condemned after eating the Forbidden
All of the women Milton likens Eve to are Greek goddesses who suffered evil fates. For example, Pomona, was the goddess of orchards who was tricked into falling in love with the god Vertumnus. By using Pomona, Milton both uses her to foreshadow Eve’s eventual downfall but to also alludes to the Forbidden Tree’s fruit. Similarly, Proserpina is the daughter of Ceres who is kidnapped and taken to the Underworld. After she eats six pomegranate seeds, another fruit born from a tree, she is condemned to the Underworld just as Even will be condemned after eating the Forbidden