Milton's Eve: A Woman Before Her Time

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how one of the many aspects that have been questioned in the works of John Milton is the portrayal of women and how feminist critics claim that Milton was a misogynist, and others claim that he was simply just a man of his time. Through closer examination of Eve in his "Paradise Lost", this paper looks at how Milton could arguably be seen as staying consistent with the dominant paradigm of women at that time, or as rebelling against societal rules by showing Eve as a hero, as she is ultimately seen as a seeker of independence and knowledge.

From the Paper:

"The portrayal of Eve and the idea of feminism in Paradise Lost have been debated upon for centuries. And the more we come to know the role of Eve in this poem, the more we question Milton's depreciation towards women. Milton's starts the poem off with the famous line "Of man's first disobedience" (PL: BK1, 1), which ultimately led to their downfall. Notice he doesn't stereotype gender in this statement, but instead classifies Adam and Eve together in one word "mankind". The word that should be focused upon here is "disobedience". We live in a world that is made up of hierarchies' and so too does Milton in his imaginary world of paradise. The first examples of hierarchies are shown in heaven as it is made up of Angels, Arch Angels, Seraphs, Powers and Dominions, all arranged in order to their proximity to God. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Empson, William. Milton's God. London: Chatto & Windus, 1961.
• Landy, Marcia. "Kinship and the Role of Women in Paradise Lost." Milton Studies,4. Ed. James D. Simmonds. Pittsburg: 1972.
• Lewalski, Barbara Kiefer. The Life of John Milton. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2002.
• Milton, John. "Paradise Lost." The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton. Ed.William Kerrigan. 1st ed. New York: The Modern Library, 2007.
• Milton, John. The Poetical Works of John Milton. London: Fredrick Warne and Co., 1901.

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