Paradise Lost Vs Genesis - the Differing Adams

My purpose is to show that Milton's Adam differs from that of Genesis. The two pieces of literature describe God's creation of earth and mankind. In the two stories, the description of Adam is different. In Milton's Paradise Lost, Adam converses indirectly with God through the archangel Raphael, whereas in Genesis, God talks to Adam, but Adam does not speak back. Another point where Milton's Adam differs from that of Genesis is in the character of Adam. A third point of difference occurs at the point where Eve is presented. Both stories have different ways of describing the creation of woman.

In order to present my argument of comparing Milton's Adam to the Adam of Genesis, I am going to show the difference in the conversing of Adam and God. In Paradise Lost, Adam speaks directly to the arch Angel Raphael to get answers, or to God himself. For example, in Book VII of Paradise Lost, Adam asks God about how earth was created. God then sent Raphael to answer him. In the story, Raphael answers Adam by describing all 7 days of creation. For day one's description, Raphael says, "Ð'...And Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung. Ð''Let there be Light, said God and forthwith Light Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East To journey through the airy gloom began, Spher'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun Was not; shee in a cloudy Tabernacle Sojourn'd the while."(Book VII, line 243-249) This response, along with the remainder of the days of creation intrigued Adam. It also was an example of the direct contact between Milton's Adam and God or his Angels. In Genesis, God communicated directly to Adam, but Adam never spoke to God. One example is "And the Lord God commanded the man saying, From all the trees of the garden thou may surely eat. But as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad thou shalt not eat."(Genesis 2:16-17) This passage is a demonstration of Adam communicating directly with God. These passages show a difference in describing Milton's Adam and the Adam of Genesis.

In Paradise Lost, Adam's communication with Raphael demonstrates that Adam has a personality and some character. This brings about another difference between the two stories because in Genesis, Adam seems to be a man that just does what he is told, without question. Paradise Lost gives Adam a personality that makes him completely different than the Biblical Adam. Throughout Milton's story, Adam questions God and has a personality of his own. Adam asks Raphael the archangel for answers. For example, "Ð'...what cause Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest Through all Eternity so late to build In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon Absolv'd, if unforbid thou may'st unfold What wee, not to explore the secrets ask Of his Eternal Empire, but the more To magnify his works, the more we know."(Book VII, lines 90-97) Although this passage is praising God, it is also demonstrating Adam's inquisitive character. The character of Adam in Milton's

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