in the garden

As an English major, I study plenty of classic literature. These past few weeks I have been studying Milton and Marvell. My professor posed a question to us. He asked us to compare Milton and Marvell's views of Eve in the Garden of Eden. I found it intriguing to write about, so I hope you find it intriguing to read!!

Milton and Marvell approach the creation of Eve from drastically different standpoints. In “The Garden,” Marvell follows a more rigid approach; first, the body's needs are met, then the mind retreats into itself, and finally, the soul evolves into an angel. Marvell values time alone in nature, he believes it is necessary to get away from distractions in order to be alone with God. The best example of Marvell’s ideas on the creation of Eve is in stanza eight, “Such was a happy garden state, While man there walked without a mate...To wander solitary there.. to live in paradise alone” (57-65). Marvell states that the downfall of man began with the creation of women. They become a distraction, and prevent men from reaching their full potential in relationship with God. The main purpose of Marvell’s writing is to reiterate the importance of nature, or the so-called “garden state” where distractions did not exist and it was man and God.

On the other hand, Milton takes a different approach on the creation of Eve in lines 357-451 of Paradise Lost. Adam has fallen asleep and God appears to him in a dream. God goes over the rules Adam must adhere to in order to receive the full benefits of the kingdom and he gives Adam the ability to name all of the living creatures that are with him. However, Adam does not take comfort in this. He asks God for a companion, “Thou hast provided all things: but with me I see not who partakes” (l. 363). Adam explains his reasoning behind this to God in the following lines, “In solitude what happiness, who can enjoy alone, or all enjoying, what contentment find” (l. 364-66)? He is lonely and cannot find contentment around him, even though he has everything he needs. Adam recognizes that he is not evenly yoked with the other living creatures, they are all beneath him. He wants someone to talk to and share experiences with. God responds, testing Adam, but ultimately concedes that it is not good for man to be alone. In lines 450-51 God likens Eve to “thy other self” and “thy heart's desire.” Because humans all fall short of God, there is a recognition of the longing Adam had. Milton goes on in book eight to write about the conversation between the angel Raphael and Adam, in which Raphael warns Adam against idolizing Eve, reminding him to still worship God first.

Comparing Marvell and Milton’s approach, it is evident that Marvell truly believed women were to blame for the downfall of mankind. In juxtaposition, Milton recognized that when God created mankind, he knew that they were going to fall short, which is why he recognized Adam’s longing to have a companion. To Milton, the garden was never truly ‘perfect.’ Adam had all that he desired, yet still wanted more. Adam made his own choices, and God saw his desires through. God acknowledging Adam’s wants destroys Marvell’s idea that the downfall began immediately upon the creation of Eve. Rather, the downfall began with the battle between Heaven and Hell.