We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Adam's Fall as a Prefiguration of Christ's Sacrificing Himself for the Church.
- Authors
Desai, Rupin W.
- Abstract
In the John Milton poem "Paradise Lost," Adam's fall has been interpreted in numerous ways, the two extremities of the spectrum being (1) its unconditional exaltation by Eve who sees it as a "glorious trial of exceeding love" and (2) the narrative voice that impugns Adam for being "fondly overcome with Femal charm". However, there is a third approach that needs to be considered: Adam's act of self-sacrifice can be viewed as anticipative of Christ's sacrifice of himself for the Church. Adam's humanity is in a sense mirrored by Christ who assumes human form, partaking of flesh and blood. Adam's decision to fall with Eve establishes the pattern answering to Christ's definition of unsurpassable love. As Christ chooses to die, not out of necessity but willingly, so does Adam.
- Subjects
PARADISE Lost (Poem : Milton); MILTON, John, 1608-1674; BIBLE. Genesis -- Biography; JESUS Christ; SELF-sacrifice; HUMANITY; CHRISTIANITY; CRUCIFIXION of Jesus Christ
- Publication
Milton Quarterly, 1983, Vol 17, Issue 4, p121
- ISSN
0026-4326
- Publication type
Literary Criticism
- DOI
10.1111/j.1094-348X.1983.tb00368.x