Milton shows Eve to be dutiful to God, yet pulled by Satan from her earliest memories. In the recounting of how Eve comes into existence, we receive in essence the genesis of Eve. Eve speaks about “that day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awaked” (449-450). Just like the muddled feeling one has when they wake up, so is Eve’s recounting of her beginning. Since then, Eve has apparently tried to “follow straight” the path set for her by God, and when looking into her reflection sees a beautiful image, one created out of God. But there are some darker undertones for the innocent Eve.
The image of herself that Eve sees in the water causes Eve to “pin[e] with vain desire” (466). Her lust in her image is indicative of the sin that she will eventually commit, and reveals the parallel of how close Heaven is to Hell. Eve does not exist as completely pure and innocent as Milton inserts doubt in references to Satan and death. In Eve’s first description, she remembers being under a “shade of flowers” (451), an unmistakable reference to the spirits of the underworld. While it seems Eve is born into the bright sunny land, a shadow of sin is cast over her as well. A reference to Satan is in the repetition of “fly’st” (482), as it recalls images of Satan flying from Hell. Eve, while set up to be the “Mother of human race” (475), from her beginning reveals a connection with the sin for which she will ultimately be remembered.
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