Throughout history, John Milton’s Paradise Lost has been viewed as a controversial poem for several reasons. Whether it is Milton’s portrayal of Satan, as a semi-hero, with mainly heroic characteristics, or Milton’s God in Paradise Lost, one can see that the writer challenged conventional roles of his time. Less apparent is Milton’s progressive viewpoint on women in the poem. Although Milton cannot be classified as a feminist writer, Eve’s portrayal is highly liberal for the seventeenth century. In fact, Eve is one of Milton’s most empowered characters in Paradise Lost. This is evident in Eve and Adam’s relationship with each other in which both attempt to reach a mutual understanding, but unintentionally reinforce their differences. Adam desires
…show more content…
It is evident that Eve is referring to equality of the mind here, as Adam often dismisses her reasoning and decisions-making abilities in the poem. Scholar Kristin Pruitte expresses alarm at the point that, “some critics see this [the above passage] as an indication of Eve’s resentment of patriarchy and thus a revelation of her underlying motive for disobedience… (148). Pruitte points out that Eve has faulty reasoning when she wants equality with Adam because Adam already considers Eve as an equal. However, Pruitte dismisses an important consideration, in that although Adam self-professes that Eve is a complete woman, who is equal to him – his actions speak otherwise. For example, Adam mentions to Raphael that Eve is intellectually inferior to him and Adam neglects Eve’s questions regarding the earth and planets, while hypocritically asking the same question to Raphael. Basically, if Adam engaged Eve intellectually rather than physically and emotionally, the fall would not have happened in the first place. In this way, Adam’s persistence on acting superior to Eve is counterproductive for him as it eventually results in his downfall as well. That said, Adam constantly undermines Eve and her intelligence reinforcing patriarchal values in Paradise Lost, resulting in the loss of paradise for
It is evident that Eve is referring to equality of the mind here, as Adam often dismisses her reasoning and decisions-making abilities in the poem. Scholar Kristin Pruitte expresses alarm at the point that, “some critics see this [the above passage] as an indication of Eve’s resentment of patriarchy and thus a revelation of her underlying motive for disobedience… (148). Pruitte points out that Eve has faulty reasoning when she wants equality with Adam because Adam already considers Eve as an equal. However, Pruitte dismisses an important consideration, in that although Adam self-professes that Eve is a complete woman, who is equal to him – his actions speak otherwise. For example, Adam mentions to Raphael that Eve is intellectually inferior to him and Adam neglects Eve’s questions regarding the earth and planets, while hypocritically asking the same question to Raphael. Basically, if Adam engaged Eve intellectually rather than physically and emotionally, the fall would not have happened in the first place. In this way, Adam’s persistence on acting superior to Eve is counterproductive for him as it eventually results in his downfall as well. That said, Adam constantly undermines Eve and her intelligence reinforcing patriarchal values in Paradise Lost, resulting in the loss of paradise for