Season 3 Podcast 228 Milton's Paradise Lost Bk IX Pt XXII "Temptation of Eve Pt C"

Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk IX, Pt XXIII, “Temptation of Eve Pt C” In the preface to Book IX, Milton presents the following abstractthe serpent, now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat, Eve innocently followed the serpent, not even considering that the serpent was guiding her to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Up to this point the serpent had not revealed his real intent. He led her to think that it was the fruit of one of the many other trees in the Garden of Eden from which Adam and Eve could eat freely, including the tree of life. It had not occurred to Eve that Lucifer would come to her disguised as a snake, and she still does not recognize his true character; therefore, her guard is still down. The Tempter, who feels he has been wronged, armed with the courage of self-righteousness, grows bolder. She scarse had said, though brief, when now more boldThe Tempter, but with shew of Zeal and LoveTo Man, and indignation at his wrong,New part puts on, and as to passion moved,Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely, and in actRaised, as of some great matter to begin.As when of old some Orator renoundIn Athens or free Rome, where EloquenceFlourished, since mute, to some great cause addrest,Stood in himself collected, while each part,Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue,Sometimes in highth began, as no delayOf Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right.Human nature doesn’t change. On one level, Satan knows that he rebelled against God, yet he has convinced himself that his rebellion was just, and God is in the wrong for denying him the throne. Milton draws a parallel between Lucifer and ancient Roman politicians, who are so caught up in the zeal of their cause and the eloquence of their own language, believe their own lies.So standing, moving, or to highth upgrownThe Tempter all impassioned thus began.O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant,Mother of Science, Now I feel thy PowerWithin me clear, not only to discernThings in their Causes, but to trace the waysOf highest Agents, deemed however wise.Satan, of course, is lying. Satan has no body and cannot eat the forbidden fruit. He is an immortal spirit and can never die. But, of course, he is speaking through the serpent, so his true character is not detected. He appeals to flattery.Queen of this Universe, do not believeThose rigid threats of Death; The phrase “rigid threats of Death” is remarkably deceitful. It merely suggests that she won’t die immediately. Then Satan resorts to a bold lie. Being a spirit, he is not subject to death, but Eve is.  The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil will change Eve’s immortal body to a mortal body.  Adam and Eve were forbidden to even touch the tree for its very touch brought death into the world. We tend to overlook a very important issue. Adam and Eve, though made of flesh and bones, were immortal. They were vegetarians. The fruit of all the other trees in the Garden of Eden could be eaten without consequences; however, their bodies were such that the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil interrupted that immortality and made their bodies subject to entropy and death. There is another condition that we must consider. Adam was actually created outside the Garden of Eden. The finer details of the story of his creation are not given. After his creation he was placed in the Garden of Eden.  In Genesis we read,7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.8 ¶ And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.