Essay, Research Paper: Adam And Eve

In the "Book of Genesis", an ancient Hebrew story from the King James Bible, we are
given the account of Adam and Eve. Eve is led up the path of temptation and forced to make a
difficult decision. The outcome of her selection not only affects her own existence, but also that
of Adam and their descendants.
In the story, Eve is forced to choose between what she knows is right or what will turn
out to be only a temporary pleasure. The reader is fully aware of the role of the snake, presenter
of the golden apple, an excellent example of the archetypal character "the temptress". The apple
is the "forbidden fruit", the irresistible pleasure, what the decision-maker is fully aware of being
the obviously wrong choice, and yet can't help but have one taste, perhaps to get a rebellious
high, perhaps out of curiosity. Or perhaps the character is just plain ignorant. Whatever the
motives of Eve and all others in the wrong, it is soon revealed that the easiest choice to make is
not always the best.
Eve's acceptance of the apple served to show her own weakness and insecurity in what
she believed was just. She deceived the very being who created her, the ever-famous cliche of
"bite the hand that feeds you". She traded in a life of eternal happiness in the Garden of Eden for
one taste of that golden apple. It was a mistake that would alter the entire substance of mankind.
Through Eve's unfortunate judgment, the lives of others were to be miserable for generations to
come. Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, and from the sheltered life they
had so enjoyed, obviously symbolic of a fall from innocence. To survive, they had to labor
ceaselessly. No longer were meals served on a silver platter. They must toil away to make fertile
ground for food to grow, and gather their life-sustaining water from wherever it could possibly be
found. Eve was burdened with pain and suffering through childbirth, when previously that was
the least of her worries. Their terrible curse extended to all any descendants of theirs; all must
pay for Eve's crime.
In the "Book of Genesis", the reader is entirely conscious of the error in Eve's decision.
She went against her morals and standards and cheated the only two people she knew how to
love. Not only was she made to undergo castigation for her offense, Adam and all generations to
come were as well. All for one taste of that golden apple.