Madam I'm Adam
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:13 am
So our first human may have said to his newly minted mate, thus uttering the world's first palindromic phrase.
But speaking of Adam, I think what Milton does in fleshing him out is interesting and significant. When I think about what he needed to do with this character, I stop at piety and obedience toward God. Maybe another needed element was for Adam to show too much love for Eve, following the tradition that Adam commits the offense of "uxoriousness." But Milton also makes Adam comtemplative, philosophical to a degree, and, as we see later, inquiring. Why does Milton cast him this way? Why not just make him just a happy, simple man who asks no questions? Isn't that what God wants? (Note that our first view of the couple is through the eyes of Satan, whose discernment adds to his depth of character.)
For contemplation hee and valour formd,
********************************
His fair large Front and Eye sublime declar'd [ 300 ]
Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
Anyway, that's my question: Why does Milton make Adam deep?
But speaking of Adam, I think what Milton does in fleshing him out is interesting and significant. When I think about what he needed to do with this character, I stop at piety and obedience toward God. Maybe another needed element was for Adam to show too much love for Eve, following the tradition that Adam commits the offense of "uxoriousness." But Milton also makes Adam comtemplative, philosophical to a degree, and, as we see later, inquiring. Why does Milton cast him this way? Why not just make him just a happy, simple man who asks no questions? Isn't that what God wants? (Note that our first view of the couple is through the eyes of Satan, whose discernment adds to his depth of character.)
For contemplation hee and valour formd,
********************************
His fair large Front and Eye sublime declar'd [ 300 ]
Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
Anyway, that's my question: Why does Milton make Adam deep?