Eve's Apology Lanyer Analysis

Standing face to face with their creator, one stands alone, wearing a lifetime of mistakes and successes for which they will be judged solely. In Eve’s Apology by Aemilia Lanyer the prominent theme renders Adam most guilty of committing the original sin. The first to bite such forbidden fruit was Eve, who faced extensive disgrace for her mistake, meanwhile condemning the female gender. Although the fruit was offered to Adam as a symbol of Eve’s love, it was Adam’s own mouth that bit into it, therefore forsaking God’s commands. The naïve mind of Eve cannot be blamed for such error of Adam’s for he was created to lead by example. Free will is installed within Adam, yet hope remains that he will live up to his creator’s image. It is until Adam chooses to eat the forbidden fruit that he is expected to take full responsibility for his wrong doing. Lanyer portrays the theme throughout the poem by the use of imagery, irony and personification which promote the belief that one should be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.

Through imagery, Lanyer portrays Adam as an impeccable being, said to be incapable of mistake which is later proven false by his decision to eat the “forbidden fruit”. The argument made in “Eve’s Apology”

In Eve’s defense it is known that she offered Adam the apple after she bit it, but it was only out of pure love and generosity which motivated her to do so. It was that immense love that now frames women and unfairly critics them for everything they do. Adam carried forth her actions which is ultimately worse due to the fact that God himself commanded him not to eat any fruit from the tree. Let men not forget that they equally have free will granted by God. Every mistake can be mended, but only by the one who committed it, the mistake will live on forever until one speaks for their