In part one on the commentary of Eve, I wrote on the story of Adam and Eve taking the apple that was offered by Lilith/serpent in the Garden of Eden, which forced their exile from Paradise into an uncharted world, with no maps to guide them and of which they knew nothing.
In this second commentary on Eve, I want to consider whether we can view this biblical story in a new and contemporary way, and determine whether it has any relevance for us, psychologically. We often find ourselves stuck in the status quo with no clue of how to move or in what direction.
Adam and Eve were perfectly contented in the Garden. All was at One, much like the babe in the womb, in bliss in its state of perfect undifferentiated unity. But perhaps it was too peaceful and passive. Perhaps they were like overly indulged children in the Garden of Eden. No personal boundaries were being stretched and there was no room for reflection or forward thinking or discernment.
Something had to happen.
I suggest that it was necessary for them to get out of the Garden and its unity and unconsciousness. That it was necessary for them to experience what the the other world had to offer and to learn from experience what the Knowledge of Good and Evil really meant. I see Eve’s taking the apple in spite of the prohibition as a necessary act of disobedience. Sometimes disobedience of the rules is necessary for one’s psychological development.
The story of Eros and Psyche illustrates the necessity of contact with the real world. This is the story where Psyche the beautiful maiden is deeply in love with Eros (son of Aphrodite), although there is a condition to their love. Psyche may not look upon Eros with open eyes as this will mean death to him and their love. Their love is pure and Psyche lives in an idyllic state. However, Psyche’s two jealous sisters convince Psyche that Eros is actually a serpent in disguise and must be killed while he is sleeping. Psyche takes their advice and one day, or one night, with lighted lamp and knife in hand, she approaches Eros to kill him. But a drop of oil from her lamp falls on his shoulder and awakens Eros. He has been betrayed and flees to Psyche’s suicidal despair. Now begins Psyche’s journey to selfhood and away from unconsciousness. Like Eve who took the first bite, so too does Psyche break the taboo albeit at her sisters’ jealous encouragement.
*Anthony Stevens, British psychiatrist and Jungian analyst in his commentary of this story says and I quote:
“In this, the sisters function in a similar manner to the snake in the Garden of Eden which encourages Adam and Eve to break the taboo imposed by Jehovah. Expulsion from Paradise results in contact with real world and a development in consciousness” (italics mine).
He also comments on the story of Bluebeard and says: “Disobeying Bluebeard’s command, his errant wife enters the forbidden chamber and discovers his guilty secret. Disobedience is about defying the dominant male, refusing to be subordinate and coming to self-hood. It is a necessary step on the path to individuation, and a realization in consciousness of one’s full self-potential”.
Paul Tillich, the theologian, declares that the Fall is a symbol for the human situation, not a story of an event that happened ‘once upon a time’. Tillich says that the Fall represents a ‘fall from the state of dreaming innocence’ or, in psychological terms, an awakening from potentiality to actuality. His view and that of many learned scholars is that the Fall was necessary for the development of humankind.
I suggest that Eve heard the knock on the door as Lilith/serpent offered the apple, and not only opened the door but entered in and beyond thus setting the scene for their expulsion, needed in order to develop their consciousness, a necessary requirement for today’s world and one worthy of deep and ongoing consideration.
Both Lilith and Eve went against the status quo and by their actions got out of Paradise into the real world where they would face death and no longer be immortal; they would experience pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow, duality and disunity in the other world they were now to inhabit. They were now alienated from G.d’s grace. Perhaps in time they would come to value and appreciate that which they had lost and thus seek to return to G.d’s grace but this time in greater awareness, intention and consciousness.
Eve lifted the veil from hers and Adam’s eyes – a courageous and intuitive act in her search for the beginning knowledge of the opposites – Good and Evil – a knowledge necessary for higher consciousness. Eve may have had a momentary illusion of power in her desire for knowledge of Good and Evil, but she brought the beginnings of consciousness into the world and this is surely an act to be celebrated.
In closing, I hope I have illustrated how important it was for Eve – and Adam – to get out of the Garden for the development of their psychological growth i.e. to move from unconsciousness in the Garden of Eden towards consciousness in the real world where choice and free will is exercised – hopefully wisely.
*Anthony Stevens: Ariadne’s Clue. A Guide to the Symbols of Humankind. Allen Lane The Penguin Press, 1998.
39 Comments on commentary on eve – part two
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Nice ma. Interesting to read about the bit about returning to that state but with responsibility, kiff addition.
Thank you Mike … returning to that state of Self, but with responsibility is so well put.
Hello Lesley and thank you for your comment. I have been thinking about the more recent comments and am trying to formulate a more detailed response to them but I think it will have to be in my next blog. I too sometimes yearn for more peace and quiet, not only for myself but for the world. But we need something to kick against .. something to challenge us .. something to help us reach our centre or our Self, which task by its very nature means hard work, and a preparedness to look ourselves in the eye.
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thank you – are you referring to the commentary on eve – part two? If so, thank you!
One of the most favourite times for me on my life’s personal time line was one of innocence and naivety – I often wish I was still there. In wishing that though, I know I would have seen no personal growth (is that a horrible thing? 🙂 – Let’s just say that if I could visit that garden four times a year I would be very content to ride the storm we call life in between…
‘But perhaps it was too peaceful and passive’? perhaps it is needed sometimes.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Thanks Amedar.
I agree with Gwynn, how wonderful to live peacefully with no warring, murder, rape, poverty, greed, hunger, tears, destruction of our Mother Earth, etc etc. I wonder whether Heaven is like the Garden of Eden, and whether angels live in bliss. Do you think believing in Heaven and Angels is living in denial? However, they would have knowledge of mankind’s behaviour. Thank you Susan, I too enjoy reading your essays
Thank you Debora for your comment .. I will write more about this possibly/probably in my next post … a complex something … but for the moment just to say many of us would prefer to live in denial and will continue their lives in a complacency and refuse to see what is in front of our very eyes.
Is it possible that experience of the opposites breaking apart is a key the unconscious emerging that we also must examine. This is, as you say, a necessary step in the path for knowledge.
Thank you for your thoughtful reflections.
Thank you Susan – your comment presents an image of the opposites breaking apart and in that space the unconscious emerges. It is very powerful.
Susan, your postings are very thought provoking – like “growing up.” However, there are times I wish we could have stayed in a state of denial. Thank you so much for your postings, I do so enjoy them.
Thank you very much Gwynn for your comment. Denial is a very powerful force … we say that ignorance is bliss – but it reminds me of a saying of Jesus’ in the Apochrypha following Luke 6:4
“Man, if thou knowest what thou doest, thou art blessed; if thou knowest not, thou art cursed and a transgressor of the Law”.