temptation scene in paradise lost book 9

temptation scene in paradise lost book 9 

 

Temptation scene in paradise lost book 9

Temptation is the feeling you get when you desire to do or have something despite knowing it's bad or dangerous. The word temptation in the Bible refers to a challenge in which a person has the option of being faithful or unfaithful to God.

In Paradise Lost, John Milton uses classical rhetorical strategies to achieve Satan's seduction of Eve, which begins on line 524 and finishes on line 732 of book 9. Milton depicts Satan as a shrewd, cunning monster that deceives Eve on purpose.

Eve works in a rose garden. Through the meadows of Eden, Satan, disguised as a serpent, approaches Eve. Satan makes an attempt to seduce Eve. This seduction sequence is handled in an artful manner. He approaches Eve and is taken aback by her beauty, which causes him to forget his entire plan to extinguish human life.

He begins to praise her abruptly because he knows how readily women may be melted by her adulation. He speaks to Eve in a flowery, flattering tone.

“A Goddess among ……angels numberless”   

She is astounded by his knowledge of human language. She is surprised and wonders how is this possible that an animal is speaking in a human language. as she says:

“...… Language of man pronounced...…human sense expressed”

In reaction to this, Satan shifts his strategy and abandons flattery in order to exploit Eve's current fears. He responds to Eve's query.

“Till on a day, ……Ruddy and gold”

The serpent claimed to be a beast. He became more human-like after eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve was seduced by the serpent's words. He said “If the fruit make the serpent like a man, it should make man like god.”

Eve recognizes the persuasive exaggeration for what it is, but Satan has allowed her to be tempted.

“...…where grows the tree? …… unknown to us.”

This critical passage reveals that the serpent's statements have been carefully considered. This demonstrates women's innate frailty.

The serpent leads Eve to the tree of knowledge, which she recognizes right away. God has prevented her from eating from its fruits, she observes. She mentions the death penalty. Satan retaliates with a conclusive argument. He claims that death is nothing more than a transition from a human to a divine existence. If God isn't just, there's no need to be afraid of him; all one has to do is obey him.

Eve is now giving voice to her elaborations on the snake debate.

“...… what forbids he ……our inward freedom?”

Eve is hungry as soon as the midday hour arrives. She is extremely tempted to eat the forbidden tree's fruits when she sees it. She consumes the fruit. Adam notices Eve near the knowledge tree. This is the epic's primary scene. Adan recognises Eve as a sinner the instant he sees her.

As a result, Milton portrays Adan as a devoted lover who is willing to sacrifice all for Eve's sake.

He consumes the fruit. Earth trembles a second time as her entire nature grooms.

The distinction between the two sins is that Eve desires knowledge and chooses to eat the fruit, whereas Adam thinks he has no other alternative. Following the temptation, Adam and Eve understand that the devil's lives have deceived them.