밀턴의 이브와 성모 마리아의 상관관계

Abstract

This study looks at the relation of John Milton’s Eve in Paradise Lost to the biblical Virgin Mary. Eve is deceived by Satan to tasting the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and therefore attacked as the one who corrupted humanity. But Milton suggests that Adam is the more responsible because, although Eve was the first to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, she was deceived into doing so, but Adam knew the consequences of eating of the fruit. What is more, whereas Adam kept on blaming Eve after the fall, it was Eve who first repented and offered reconciliation. Through God’s grand design, the Virgin Mary is prophesied to be born as the Second Eve, out of whose womb the Savior will come to the world. In the Marian cult within the Catholic Church, Mary is even hailed as a co-redemptrix, who suffers with Christ as ‘mater dolorosa’ under the Cross. Although Milton viewed the Catholic Church as “popery” (not even a religion), he nevertheless saw Mary as very important, without whom the Second Adam, Christ, would not come into the world to save mankind. This shows that Milton’s view of woman is not a negative as some feminists claim. It is a more balanced view that, despite the patriarchal limitations of Milton’s times, distributes proper honor where each sex is due. Eve is the first to fall, the first to be deceived by Satan, but she is also the first to repent, and will be the mother of all mankind. From her line will emerge the Second Eve, mother of the Savior, who will trample on Satan’s head.