Character Sketch of Eve in Milton's Paradise Lost

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Who is Eve?

Eve is one of the central figures of the epic, Paradise Lost. She is the mother of mankind and first-ever woman created by God. Eve is beautiful, intelligent but less than Adam and possesses the weaknesses of a typical woman found in almost every span of different eras. Eve is created as a helpmate for Adam to maintain the Garden of Eden. The character of Eve in Paradise Lost is of core importance because if she cannot be seduced by Satan, how will Milton justify "the ways of God to men?"

Mythologically Beautiful

Although Eve is created from Adam's ribs, she still boasts the most splendid stature that after eyeing herself in a body of water, she falls in love with her own image and keeps staring at her own reflection until God leads her away. Just like a mythological creature known as Narcissus who also fell in love with his own reflection and kept seeing it until he breathed his last (was dead). Adam is profoundly enchanted by Eve's beauty and he proclaims to Raphael that he has not seen anything so beautiful in his life than Eve. Even Satan cannot withstand against her unmatched beauty and temporarily forgets about his revenge. Later, it is Eve's beauty which is used as a weapon by Satan to constitute for the fall of the couple. 

Curiously Intellectual

Just like Adam, Eve is also intelligent but less than Adam. Although Adam takes his wife as equal in intellectual power as himself. She listens to the talks between Adam and Raphael about the war in Heaven but when the subject changes to the creation of the universe, she leaves to tend her garden. This incident suggests that Eve is as capable of understanding the universe as Adam does but Milton seems too quick to point out, 

Yet went she not, as not with such discourse

Delighted, or not capable of her ear

Of what was high: such pleasures she reserv'd,

Adam relating, she sole Auditress

In simple terms, only wants to hear about such science from her husband only. 

Eve is also curious to know about her surroundings. That is why, she questions Adam occasionally but in a rational manner with respect included. For instance, when suggesting to work alone, she not only suggests but presents logical arguments to support her suggestion. When Adam says that she can be easily manipulated by Satan, she replies that a proudful foe like Satan will feel humiliated to ensnare a weaker sex.

A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek,

So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.

But her curiosity about the forbidden fruit leads to the web of temptation, manufactured by Satan. 

An Easy Entrance

Milton terms Eve "our credulous mother" in Book 9 with some reasons behind it. On seeing Eve, Satan notes "too easy entrance found". Eve likes and strives for freedom. Satan appears before her in form of a snake and starts praising her like a goddess. Initially, she becomes alert of the snake speaking eloquently but when Satan praises her beauty and ensures her that the fruit has made him speak. He confirms her that this forbidden fruit can transform her into a goddess. On hearing such lofty word, her intellectual sense stops working and she eats the forbidden fruit of the deadly "knowledge" without thinking about the possible consequences. 

After having eaten the fruit, both Adam and Eve start the blame game but when they regain their senses, her love for Adam is restored in a new way. She is ready to face their future after she apologizes for the fall. 

Conclusion

The character of Eve is marked by innocence but she has put as a victim to hierarchism (the concept of men being superior to women). Her escape from hierarchy leads her to the fall while some part is played by her curiosity. 

Sources and Suggested Readings

1. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/paradise-lost/eve
2. https://devangibagohil.blogspot.com/2015/10/assignment-1-paradise-lost-character.html
3. https://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/paradiselost/character/eve/
4. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/paradise-lost/character-analysis/eve#:~:text=Eve%20is%20a%20simpler%20character,Adam%20only%20in%20her%20beauty.
5. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Paradise-Lost/character-analysis/
6. https://www.risenotes.com/paradise/Paradise-Lost-character-of-Eve.php