The Sin of Adam and Eve
In the passage titled Of the Equal or Unequal Sin of Adam and Eve, two authors; Isotta Nogarola and Ludovico Foscarini, argue about the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Nogarola starts her claim by stating that Eve lacked a sense and constancy and that she therefore sinned less than Adam did. In her case the serpent thought of Adam as invulnerable because of his constancy. Adam was unable to be persuaded by the serpent because he was created so that he would not change his opinion or state of mind, but Eve was not created that way therefore making her vulnerable. God also lead his command more towards Adam to not eat the fruit from the tree because he esteemed the man more highly than the women. Adam was therefore …show more content…
He believes Eve’s sin should be more condemned than Adam’s because she was assigned a harsher punishment, she believed she was made more like God, and that she caused Adam’s sin. Eve, according to Foscarini, sinned from ignorance and inconstancy. He backs up his argument by stating ignorance does not excuse us and that she is more knowledgeable than she is credited for because she was created by God. He provides reference to the Bible that the serpent approached Eve with a question rather than through persuasion, which would claim Eve was simply answering a question and unknowingly fell into a trap. Eve was not excused because Adam was assigned to protect her. Her pride was the cause of the sin. The devil promised her knowledge, which made her arrogant and inflated her pride. In the end Eve’s punishment is greater than Adam’s because she receives all of the penalties of Adam, but must also be in pain while birthing a child. Eve believed she was made similar to God and desired that which wounds the Holy Spirit. She is responsible for all of Adam’s faults. He references a quote from Aristotle, “the cause of a cause is the cause of that which is caused” (Bartlett ,92). This quote is saying that Adam’s sin, which is the cause of Eve’s sin is the result of the original sin. Since Adam followed Eve’s example, it was Eve who was responsible in the first place therefore she sinned more. As Foscarini states, “she deceived her husband more …show more content…
Both images vary and they tend to “pick a side of the debate” done by Isotta Nogarola and Ludovico Foscarini. Masolino would agree more with Nogarola’s interpretation that Adam was more at fault than Eve because he depicts them as more relaxed and equal in emotions. Adam is able to clearly see the serpent and still takes the apple from Eve. He has free will to decide whether to take it or not, but still chooses to do so. This shows he was guilty for his own sin and that it was not the fault of Eve. Eve, turned away from the serpent, represents her ignorance to the evil. Also her body position shows this too. She is relaxed and actually resting against the tree as if she did not know what was hanging over her head. Masaccio on the other hand, would agree more with Foscarini. He shows lots of emotion in both the figures, but particularly in Eve. He shows Eve in pure agony representing her greater sin and greater punishment. Hanging over both figures is an angel holding a sword which shows the punishment of Adam and Eve. Both have death looming over them, however Eve has to give birth to a child in pain. Adam is covering his face in shame as they walk away from their sin. He fell into Eve’s trap and now must also bear the consequences. The figures are also not interacting with each other which shows that they were both to blame for the sin, but Eve
In the passage titled Of the Equal or Unequal Sin of Adam and Eve, two authors; Isotta Nogarola and Ludovico Foscarini, argue about the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Nogarola starts her claim by stating that Eve lacked a sense and constancy and that she therefore sinned less than Adam did. In her case the serpent thought of Adam as invulnerable because of his constancy. Adam was unable to be persuaded by the serpent because he was created so that he would not change his opinion or state of mind, but Eve was not created that way therefore making her vulnerable. God also lead his command more towards Adam to not eat the fruit from the tree because he esteemed the man more highly than the women. Adam was therefore …show more content…
He believes Eve’s sin should be more condemned than Adam’s because she was assigned a harsher punishment, she believed she was made more like God, and that she caused Adam’s sin. Eve, according to Foscarini, sinned from ignorance and inconstancy. He backs up his argument by stating ignorance does not excuse us and that she is more knowledgeable than she is credited for because she was created by God. He provides reference to the Bible that the serpent approached Eve with a question rather than through persuasion, which would claim Eve was simply answering a question and unknowingly fell into a trap. Eve was not excused because Adam was assigned to protect her. Her pride was the cause of the sin. The devil promised her knowledge, which made her arrogant and inflated her pride. In the end Eve’s punishment is greater than Adam’s because she receives all of the penalties of Adam, but must also be in pain while birthing a child. Eve believed she was made similar to God and desired that which wounds the Holy Spirit. She is responsible for all of Adam’s faults. He references a quote from Aristotle, “the cause of a cause is the cause of that which is caused” (Bartlett ,92). This quote is saying that Adam’s sin, which is the cause of Eve’s sin is the result of the original sin. Since Adam followed Eve’s example, it was Eve who was responsible in the first place therefore she sinned more. As Foscarini states, “she deceived her husband more …show more content…
Both images vary and they tend to “pick a side of the debate” done by Isotta Nogarola and Ludovico Foscarini. Masolino would agree more with Nogarola’s interpretation that Adam was more at fault than Eve because he depicts them as more relaxed and equal in emotions. Adam is able to clearly see the serpent and still takes the apple from Eve. He has free will to decide whether to take it or not, but still chooses to do so. This shows he was guilty for his own sin and that it was not the fault of Eve. Eve, turned away from the serpent, represents her ignorance to the evil. Also her body position shows this too. She is relaxed and actually resting against the tree as if she did not know what was hanging over her head. Masaccio on the other hand, would agree more with Foscarini. He shows lots of emotion in both the figures, but particularly in Eve. He shows Eve in pure agony representing her greater sin and greater punishment. Hanging over both figures is an angel holding a sword which shows the punishment of Adam and Eve. Both have death looming over them, however Eve has to give birth to a child in pain. Adam is covering his face in shame as they walk away from their sin. He fell into Eve’s trap and now must also bear the consequences. The figures are also not interacting with each other which shows that they were both to blame for the sin, but Eve