Book 9, Group 3

In Book IX of Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan as a serpent tricks Eve into eating the forbidden fruit by informing her of how good the knowledge she receives from it would be; however, I believe Milton uses this as an example that knowledge is powerful, but obeying God is more important than feeding your intellect. The actual knowledge Eve and Adam receive from eating the fruit relates directly to obeying God. When they wake in the forest, naked and ashamed, to see the Paradise has changed, “high winds worse within began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore their inward state of mind” (910). Once Adam and Eve woke up, they were filled with the knowledge they were promised; however, this knowledge was not as enjoyable as the serpent, Satan, had promised. It was great in a way that allowed the couple to see the Paradise they destroyed as well as their downfall as a species. The knowledge was clearly upsetting to them, however, and plagued their minds that had once been clean of sin. I believe Milton made the knowledge Satan promised hard to bear in order to inform people that trust in God is more important than the power knowledge can provide you with. Eve informs the serpent “of this tree [they] may not taste nor touch; God so commanded, and left that command sole daughter of his voice” (900). Eve recites her knowledge of God’s directions, but turns against it once Satan convinces her that God only keeps the tree from her because it is powerful. In fact, Eve only learns of the tree’s power after it leads her and Adam to cause the downfall of man. The knowledge gained from Satan and the tree is powerful, but not enjoyable: trust in God is all-powerful and cannot be topped by the power of knowledge.

Would this book be considered in media res? I figured since it begins in the middle of Adam and Eve’s paradise, it might be considered so. Also, where is there an example of an epic simile? I would like to see one for reference.