Temptation After the Fall

After the fall in Book 11, Michael shows Adam a vision of men working with metals and beautiful women appearing from tents. Adam has not been used to seeing other beautiful wommen other than Eve. This opens up temptation to Adam. He should remain faithful to Eve. Upon seeing the women, Adam says, "True opener fmine eyes, prime angel blest, / Much better seems this vision and more hope / Of peaceful days portends than those two past: / Those were of hate and death or pain much worse, / Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends (11. 598-602). Now that there are going to be more people onthe Earth, temptation to refrain from remaining chaste and faithful becomes stronger. Before their faill, Adam was the only male and Eve was the only female. They had each other and God. It was impossible for any means of aduultery. They fought over the little things. However, after the fal, sine and death seeped the Earth. There was still going to be temptation on Earth. Now that there was ging to be more beautiful women like Eve on Earth, for a moment there in Adam's quote, it seemed as if he was already falling for worldly pleasures rather than thinking of only Eve.