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“Paradise Lost”
for Prof. Lange Clarkson University
Fall 1999
The “fall of man” as seen described in the first book of the Holy Bible, Genesis, is portrayed as a sinister act. The fact that Eve fell into temptation seems to be the foundation on which everyone bases his or her misplaced chance at paradise. What many people fail to see is that much good came from the “fall of man”, and should be thanking Eve for choosing to fall into sin. Without Eve we would not have the concept of free will, “good” would have never existed without “bad”, people would not have adapted and would have been satisfied with their original surroundings, and we would act automatically without any thought. Man would be and just be.
“’You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” When the serpent tempts Eve, she is given the chance to choose to eat from the tree of knowledge. She chooses to eat and share her fruit with Adam. When they eat of the tree, their eyes are opened and they both realize that they are without clothes. This is the point at which man recognizes the concept of free will. Now that Adam and Eve know the difference between “good” and “bad,” they have the responsibility of making choices. As opposed to the choices being made for them by their creator, God, before they ate of the tree of knowledge. We now have the power to choose what we want and not the way fate, or God, directs.
Many people can also argue that “good” cannot exist without “bad.” There would have never been a difference unless Eve ate of the tree. We would be like children. We would sin and not know. You can look at it like two extremes, black or white. The color white is made up of all colors and can only be a color if colors existed. Same with the color black, black is the absence of all colors but can only be described that way if there were colors.
We can only be described as “good” if there were “bad” in the world and strayed from it.
Besides gaining free will and “good “or “bad,” we were able to explore the globe and settle. If Adam and Eve would have never eaten the apple, they would be satisfied with their surroundings. The fact that God banished them from the Garden of Eden forced Adam and Eve to propagate, and forced offspring to explore and settle the globe. This is where all the great explorers come into play. Christopher Columbus had the opportunity to discover a part of the world, just as Ferdinand Magellan had the good fortune of circumnavigating the globe for the Catholic Church. As a result of travel, we were able to grow physically and mentally. Like in The Odyssey, Odysseus has to travel to several islands and other interesting places to find himself.
Without the knowledge of “good” and “bad” we would only do what we are told and not what we choose. Exactly like Adam and Eve were treated while they were housed in the Garden of Eden. We would have automatic motions, motions without any thought or hesitation. We would obey blindly. The human race would look like robots controlled by remotes, God being the lucky bearer of the remote controls and us being the robots.
The “fall of man” is inarguably a good thing. Man would not have all the things and thoughts we have today. The human race would be stuck; there would be no movement to advance the human race culturally, mentally, and scientifically. The knowledge of “good” and “bad” make us what we are. Without it everyone would be too similar. The world would be perfect. Man would be and just be boring.
Word Count: 654
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