Two Peas in a Pod

The Characters of Milton’s Satan and Eve are very similar. They are both the target of blame for the Fall of Man, their actions have the same motivation of desiring to increase their own power, and arguably rebelled against God out of vengeance of their respective lower statuses.

Adam blames Eve for their downfall and exile from Paradise after they each eat the apple and have a romp in the bushes. And when confronted by God, both Adam and Eve blame Satan as he tempted them into disobedience. But truly, it was their free will that caused their sin. Though Satan did provide the temptation, it was both Adam and Eve’s choice to sink their teeth into the apple of Knowledge.

Both Eve and Satan sinned to better themselves. Eve, to be smarter, and Satan, to be God. Their desire to increase their status thus caused their rebellion, as Eve was lesser than Adam and Lucifer lesser than God.

Therefore I see the relationship between the two of them as being very alike to that of the black slave and white mistress. The black slave longs for the freedom she has like Satan wishing he were in Paradise, and also longing to take the place of the white master like Satan wishing to replace Adam. Thus Satan lusts and hates Eve simultaneously. Meanwhile, the white mistress pities the black slave and yet does not recognize him as an equal as Eve unconsciously identifies with the Serpent for their disadvantaged positions yet not associating herself with an animal. This way, Eve falls for the sweet temptation Satan gives: “Ill worthy, I, such title should belong / To me transgressor who for thee ordained / A help became thy snare.” (Milton Book Eleven Lines 163-165) It is the status of Adam (or the white male master) that connects and unfortunately separates Eve and Satan (or the white mistress and the black slave).

So we have two characters that are incredibly similar yet put in a situation incredibly different and forced to oppose each other. In another world, Satan and Eve would probably have been neither shamed nor Fallen, and rather, been the best of friends.