Paradise Lost
Persuasion is a very powerful tool, and if it is used wisely, the most stubborn of people can be convinced to do the unthinkable. For instance, in Paradise Lost by John Milton, Eve was tempted by Satan, disguised as a serpent, to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. God placed Adam and Eve in paradise, with only one simple rule: they could not eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Unfortunately, Eve still ate the fruit. Why did this happen? What could the serpent have possibly said to sway Eve's judgment into eating the forbidden fruit? The serpent first started with flattering Eve. He told her how beautiful she was and that every creature admired her. Even today, a method such as this is used to catch the attention of women. He then added the fact that she was beautiful, but only one man was able to admire her. Why only one, when she should be seen as a "Goddess among God"(547)? The serpent's deceptive motive had progressed from Eve is very beautiful, to Eve is a Goddess. Now, who wouldn't be overwhelmed to hear something like that? Eve, who had not yet been totally swayed by the snake's flattering words, realized an important fact: the snake could talk. She asked the snake how he was able to speak, as she was aware that on
The serpent began to answer the question as he said that he used to be like all other beasts. His only thoughts were that of food and sex. This all changed when he saw this beautiful tree with "fruit of fairest colors mixt"(577). The smell of the fruit was so wonderful. After tasting the apples of the tree, the serpent's hunger and thirst were quenched. The branches of the tree were high, so the snake had to wind his way around the trunk. Eve was wary of trying to reach the obviously out of reach branches, but the snake assured Eve that she could reach the fruit. After eating the fruit, the serpent said he was able to speak and think about beauty and God just like man. That was why the serpent had come to Eve- to worship her because she was the most beautiful and God-like creature on the earth. Eve was 'sweet-talked' into eating the fruit. Satan had done a great job persuading her. He took the most important high and mighty figure in Eve's mind (God), and turned Him into the bad guy. This was truly amazing. Satan's tactics were to not get to the point right away, and slowly chip away Eve's thoughts of right and wrong. Using the victims' own minds against them is the best method for breaking them down. Once Eve saw that it was the Tree of Knowledge that the s
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Approximate Word count = 869
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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