The Fantasy Of The Garden Of Eden The Erotic Nature Of Man

Name: Jenna Bachew Prof: Kristin Rajan Class: World Literature Date: December 5, 2014 The Serpent in the Garden of Eden: The Erotic Nature of Man The book of Genesis chronicles the process of Creation and highlights the story of the first man and woman who lived in God s paradise or the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were both innocent and carefree people until the serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Many scholars interpreted this scene as the fall of man and believed that the serpent was symbolic of Satan. Kimelman Reuven suggests that, by identifying the serpent with Satan and Satan with the evil impulse, the struggle is interjected into the interior life of Eve. He points out that the serpent is a temptation that ignites the evil nature of Eve so that even if she has prior knowledge that eating the forbidden fruit is a wrong, she still goes ahead and eats it. Though Reuven s interpretation seems attractive and is supported by the majority of the Christian teachings, I believe that the serpent symbolizes a more specific and deepe r meaning concerning humans and their existence in the world. I disagree in this instance that Satan is using the form of a serpent to deceive Eve and triumph over God. I disagree because if we take the serpent as a symbol of the devil in this particular story, such interpretation would not have justified God s decision to put the serpent in the garden together with his beloved human creations. GivenShow MoreRelatedArt Museum And Its Effects On Sexual History2572 Words   |  11 PagesAttending the world s largest erotic art museum has encouraged me to view sexuality with a more opened minded perception. Sexuality is very diverse for instance, in the way sexual acts are performed and carried out. Historically, it seems that individuals are biologically and genetically programmed to seek out sexual behaviors with others. Either for the means of reproduction or their own personal pleasure, but one thing is very evident sex is pleasurable and enjoyable for most. However, culturalRead More The Forgotten Female in the Works of Ernest Hemingway Essay3143 Words   |  13 Pagesthis world of selfishness represented in Hemingways canon, the lost, lamented for values include faith, hope, and security as well as fertility, creativity, love, peace, and human brotherhood for maintaining life. . . . Harrys last words, A man alone aint got no bloody fucking chance (THAHN 225), imply that togetherness may be the first step toward healing. Searching within the abyss of nada for meaning, people must first reform and embrace each other before they can reform and embraceRead MoreThe Sexual Exploitation Of Women Is Made Clear From The Work Of Atwood, Rossetti And Chaucer3015 Words   |  13 Pagesis put across more physically, whereas in Rossetti poetry, it is seen to be portrayed in a more mental state of mind.Another idea, is that the idea of female sexual exploitation can be seen in a religious way, with biblical references to the Garden of Eden. However, women are n ot always presented as completely passive which contradicts my previous point, there are a number of examples which show women reacting against this and embracing the fact that they are female, starting a feminist movement