Self-Centeredness or Self-Preservation? // Emma Landry

     When reviewing my notes from Book 7, something struck me about Adam's reaction to Raphael's warning tale about Satan and the rebel angels' fall from Heaven. "He with his consorted Eve the story heard attentive...things to their thought so unimaginable as hate in Heav'n...But the evil soon back redounded" (7.50-57). At first glance, this seems to be a positive thing. Adam does not allow any potential doubt of God's sovereignty to infiltrate his mind. He does not ponder any possibilities behind why Satan might have decided to turn against God. It appears that he is shunning thinking too deeply about this matter in order to shield himself from any sin and because he believes Satan's actions to be unquestionably wrong. However, what is most concerning is how quickly he turns his mind from Raphael's urgent message. Even though he consciously suppresses the doubts that arise in him, he treats the situation like it is trivial by quickly changing the subject.

    It is important as Christians to distance ourselves from what might tempt us to sin (as it seems that Adam might be putting a stop to his thoughts to maintain trust in God's sovereignty). However, pondering the circumstances that led another to fall into sin can help us better equip ourselves against tempting situations and take precautions for the future. How can we prevent making similar mistakes as those before us if we do not know what went wrong in the past?  Adam does not think this way, instead flipping a metaphorical switch to ask about things that "nearer might concern him" (7.62). This attitude is a bad sign; little does he know, the account of the rebellion in Heaven and the subsequent fall concerns him most immediately. This is an unfortunate case of irony because he implies that what Raphael has come to tell him is irrelevant. Instead of truly heeding his warning, he asks to hear about something else like a bored child. 

    Adam insists that the reason he wants to know more about the creation story is to "magnify His works" (7. 97). This is likely a justification, an excuse for the angel to satiate Adam's hunt for knowledge. Interestingly, Adam skillfully selects just the right words that should successfully convince a heavenly being to reveal details about God's workings. Whether Milton intended it or not, Adam's words mirror Satan's deception tactics. I am not entirely sure that Adam is being completely sincere. Perhaps, even though he has pushed down these thoughts, he is subconsciously entertaining the idea of rebelling against God. To combat this, he asks to hear about how the Earth was created. On the other hand, he might believe he can listen to and please God by his own choosing. However, any message from God should concern him, no matter the contents. Adam rather wants to pay attention to what interests him. His disregard for the warning story that Raphael tells is similar to how stubborn we as Christians can be even today. God may send every warning sign possible, but we must value those signs and heed them for them to help us. Even "good" things (i.e. learning about the account of creation) can distract us if God wants to show us something else and we instead ignore his messages because we think we know better than Him. 

I commented on Haylee Lynd's and Ian Blair's posts.

Comments

  1. Emma Kate PattersonSeptember 21, 2021 at 3:44 AM

    I like how you pointed out that it is important for us to think about the situations that lead others into sin in order to help us avoid that sin. It is so important in today’s society for us to recognize the consequences of the sin around us because this can help us see why we shouldn’t commit these sins.

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  2. Hailey WalshSeptember 21, 2021 at 11:05 AM

    Interesting! I didn't even notice Adam's disinterested demeanor. It certainly explains what we know is going to happen next with the fall. Adam isn't focusing on what Raphael is saying... or why he is saying it. He's too distracted by himself and his own curiosity. Great post!

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