Book VII: Adam and Eve have soaked up what Raphael has said. Adam wants to know more, especially about the creation of the world. He asks Raphael how and why God created the earth. Raphael says he'll tell him, but it will be hard to explain. He tells Adam that knowledge must be rationed like food, or else you could get sick. Raphael starts his next story. God saw Satan fall and tells JC he will create another world. God said he will make one man to make the entire race, but he can't live in Heaven. God lets His Son create the world. He works around Chaos to create the earth. He makes light--you know, "Let there be light," on the first day. The second day he makes an atmosphere to go between earth and space. The third day he creates land and sea, along with vegetation. The fourth day he makes the sun, moon, and stars, as well as seasons. On the fifth day, reptiles, whales, and birds are made as well as other animals which belong in the water. The sixth day, land mammals are made, as well as insects and other vermin. Finally, God says let's make man in our image. He also makes Eve. He puts them in Eden to do whatever they wish except eat from the Tree of Knowledge. They all go back to Heaven, and on the seventh day, they rejoice. Raphael finishes his story and says, Adam, are you done questioning me?
Book VIII: Adam has one more question: why do stars and planets move? Eve gets up, not able to handle their conversation. Raphael tells Adam that's really none of his business; God wills it that way so it is. Adam is satisfied by this answer. Now it's Adam's turn to tell some stories. He's going to tell Raphael about his earliest memories. Adam says he woke up and looked up to Heaven, then checked out his surroundings. He walked around and found out he could speak and name things. He didn't really know who he was though. He fell asleep and had a dream. A celestial being came to him and took him to Eden. He awoke there. The same celestial being came forward and told Adam he's the one who created everything. He said the usual: this place is all yours, just don't eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. If you eat that, you'll be mortal and exiled from Eden. After God finishes, the animals come up to Adam in pairs. He names them. He realizes he's alone. God says, you have all of these animals, you're not alone. They have a small chat about how perfect God is, then He creates Eve. Adam instantly loves Eve. Raphael tells Adam not to be too focused on her beauty. Eve is worthy of Adam's love but not his "subjection." Sweet, Raphael. Adam says don't worry, Raphael. He tells Adam it's time to go back to Heaven. He reminds Adam to keep obeying God and resist temptation. They say goodbye, and Raphael returns to Heaven.
Book IX: Milton tells his readers that things are about to take a turn for the worse. No more happy stories, but now we'll discuss tragedy. The sun sets and at night, Satan comes, hell-bent (haha, pun intended) on destroying man. There's a river that flows underground and comes to a fountain in Paradise. This is how Satan gets back in. He decides to be a snake to corrupt Adam and Eve. Satan goes on a diatribe about how he can't enjoy earth, so he wants to make everyone else depressed. He waits until dawn. When the sun rises, Eve suggests they divide their labor. Adam says you can take some time for yourself, Eve, but he feels a little trepidation. He reminds Eve that Satan is lurking, and that they're better off hanging out together. Eve is a little annoyed that Adam doubts her. Eve says she can handle herself. She says she'll come back by noon. Satan is waiting for Eve, hoping she would be alone, and she is. Satan is astonished by her beauty. He moves toward Eve. He talks to her. She's surprised, thinking that animals couldn't talk. He responds, flattering her, by saying he used to be dumb like other animals, but he saw a piece of fruit that looked delicious. He ate some and now he can talk and critically think. Eve is impressed. She asks which tree is it, and he leads her to it. Eve tells Satan, not knowing it's him, that she's not allowed to eat from it. Satan has to be more persuasive. He tells her that the fruit won't kill her. God would never hurt her. She's only forbidden to eat from it so God can keep her ignorant. If she eats the fruit, Satan says, she'll become godlike. Eve is tricked. She's hungry and tempted. She has a little bit of an internal dialogue, worried about eating the fruit, but she eats it. She decides that Adam should eat it, too. Adam actually has gone in search of Eve and finds her at the Tree. Eve gives him the fruit, telling him to eat some of it. Adam is none too happy. He can't believe it, but he loves Eve too much to let her go down without him. Eve uses the same mantra Satan used on her. Adam eats it. They now feel lust for the first time. They have sex and fall asleep. When they wakeup, they feel hungover. They now realize they are naked. They've lost their innocence. They pick up some fig leaves to cover themselves up. They sit and cry, while they feel emotions like anger and hate. They spend the rest of the day bickering and blaming each other.
That's it for today. Tomorrow will be the last summary!
Cassy
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