Locke and the Fall
So, as I am reading through Paradise Lost, I am also reading through a work by John Locke for another class. Interestingly enough, the readings this week both lined up on the concept of sin/ the Fall, at least in subject matter. In Locke's work, he asserts that man's only reason behind sin/ desire that which is wrong is his narrowness of mind. To clarify, Locke puts the idea of pleasure/pain into two categories--present and future. He says that present pain/pleasure takes precedence over the idea of future pain/pleasure, due to man's inability to fully contemplate both simultaneously.
The reason I bring this up is because I believe it correlates perfectly with how the Fall occurs, especially in Paradise Lost (BK 9). Neither Adam or Eve can see past the idea of present pleasure/pain into the idea of future pleasure/ future pain. Eve sees the fruit, as described/portrayed by the Serpent and disregards the possible pain following the fulfillment of desire. Adam cannot see past the pain of not having Eve as his love, thus he eats the fruit in order to fall and suffer death as well. If either of them had considered the future in its entirety, could they have resisted? Just some thoughts.
P. S. I commented on Sophia and Will's posts.
The reason I bring this up is because I believe it correlates perfectly with how the Fall occurs, especially in Paradise Lost (BK 9). Neither Adam or Eve can see past the idea of present pleasure/pain into the idea of future pleasure/ future pain. Eve sees the fruit, as described/portrayed by the Serpent and disregards the possible pain following the fulfillment of desire. Adam cannot see past the pain of not having Eve as his love, thus he eats the fruit in order to fall and suffer death as well. If either of them had considered the future in its entirety, could they have resisted? Just some thoughts.
P. S. I commented on Sophia and Will's posts.
I would say that it is possible that they could have avoided the temptation had they have thought about it, but then the question is...the tree is always there, so why not go back to it at a later date? It seems almost inevitable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Locke's view of pain/pleasure and present/future. That is why we all give into instant gratification and which is why most of us sin. For that instant gratification. I think that this idea correlates greatly with the fall. Obviously neither of them thought about what would happen. Do any of us really, before we sin?
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