Is there misogyny in the book?

[Gift Nwagu]

Eve sinned more greatly because it was on her account that Adam sinned. She set the example and Adam followed it. However, she was not given a greater punishment, for while she was told she would deliver children in pain, Adam was punished with labor and death.

Absolutely, I feel that though many might see Eve's punishment as relatively harsher, it might be because she fell into sin first. We cannot deny that Adam was also given his own punishment for yielding to temptation.

[Arite Seki]

I think considering that it is based on the Bible, I would say yes. There tends to be some misogyny in the Bible or at least our interpretation of it.

[jdsatosk]

I’m critiquing the plot as if the story is purely fictional and not as an interpretation of a religious text.

My impression is that Adam and Eve are like two kids that are very new and lack guidance and understanding of their environment. Lucifer is supposed to be their guide - but we see that he is rather corrupted. Let’s look at Lucifer as a rather bad teacher. So this whole scenario looks to me like two second graders getting permanently expelled from school by the principal because the teacher didn’t teach them - and thus they failed the test. I guess I’m thinking both of their punishments are pretty unfair given the circumstance. It feels like this situation was set up on purpose. Their punishment is not really punishment for action taken but the end result actually desired by God in the first place.

They effectively are punished the same because they must bear together through each other’s punishment. And if you truly love someone, then their suffering is your suffering as well.

However, I think the the subjugation of woman to man is frankly uncharacteristic of God. Lucifer was turned into a monster by trying to gain Adam and Eve as followers. Why would man not turn into a monster but gaining his wife as his “follower?”

[Joseph_ngaruiya]

I think the punishment given to both of them wasn't biased but influenced by their misconduct.
From the original bible version of the story, it is evident that Eve was Adam's helper hence the author builds his argument around the same concept.

[Coud]

Eve's punishment was quite brutal in my opinion. I'm not saying Adam's wasn't but Eve had to give up her free will. What's your opinion?

Considering the context and the time even if it seems unfair it makes sense not to say it's alright to punish women harder than men

[ErikaP13]

Eve's punishment was quite brutal in my opinion. I'm not saying Adam's wasn't but Eve had to give up her free will. What's your opinion?

It's hard to judge something that happened in a different time by today's standards. We can look back on it now and say it's misogynistic or not, but that won't change it. At the end of the, what we decide to view it as will only change our perspective of the story

[jhunt]

Eve's punishment did feel more severe than Adam's, in my opinion.

[Brendan Donaghy]

No, there is no misogyny, I believe. From the history of mankind, we see that God is a perfect "leveler" of all inequalities between men and women and between men & men and women & women too. By the time we reach our graves, all inequalities are made up. Girls are badly treated but once they marry and become mothers, they are emotionally far more powerful and have a greater influence on their children compared to fathers. Boys set out as a privileged lot in their young days and ruin themselves feeling they're superior. After they marry and raise kids, (the boys turned) men come to know that they are emotionally weaker and cannot influence their kids more than their wives. So, it all squares up in the end! What do you feel?

What about those people who don't marry or have kids?

[Mutai Marshal]

i think the author makes it sound that the punishment on Eve was too dire than that of Adam's. unfortunately, the Bible's interpretation does not sound that tough

[Alice Festo]

Eve sinned more greatly because it was on her account that Adam sinned. She set the example and Adam followed it. However, she was not given a greater punishment, for while she was told she would deliver children in pain, Adam was punished with labor and death.

I share the same views.
Absolutely! I've never thought it that way: that Eve was severely punished than Adam. I think both of them were punished. Let it also not be forgoten that Eve concocted sin, and that God is just and fair.

[Timothy Rucinski]

If not misogyny, there is considerable sexual stereotyping given to the women. The author exploits Eve's vanity and the vanity of her daughter Eva. The obsession with personal appearance is over the top as Eve struts around in new clothes. Consider, also, that Eva creates the first "handbag" that contains a sewing kit and comb. Why is this even necessary to include in the story?

[kljrox]

Eve's punishment was quite brutal in my opinion. I'm not saying Adam's wasn't but Eve had to give up her free will. What's your opinion?

The definition of misogyny is a hatred of women. God does not hate women. I think that they each received punishment suitable to them. Eve was not told she could no longer have free will. She was told her desire would be for her husband and he would rule over her.

[MichaelCarsonReads]

I think some of the book's contents could be viewed as misogynistic given today's standards, but I don't believe the author meant to be misogynistic. Can we condemn the book even if there are parts viewed as misogynistic? After all, there are parts of The Bible itself that could be viewed as misogynistic.

[Claude Belemu]

Eve's punishment was quite brutal in my opinion. I'm not saying Adam's wasn't but Eve had to give up her free will. What's your opinion?

The definition of misogyny is a hatred of women. God does not hate women. I think that they each received punishment suitable to them. Eve was not told she could no longer have free will. She was told her desire would be for her husband and he would rule over her.

I agree! I think this question will lead us down the path of gender equality vs inequalities or society's expectation of men's roles vs women's roles. Generally, I think each of their punishments suited them. Eve's punishment was pain during childbirth while Adam's punishment was toiling under the sun to a harsh ground. Eve's is periodical, depending on whether she conceives or not, while Adam's is never-ending i.e. trying to earn a living by (modern-day standards) and literally tilling the land in ancient times. One would say being ruled by Adam was part of the punishment- in a way, I guess. Though I would view it as the inverse negative punishment/ response to Eve influencing her husband to eat the fruit i.e. punishment would now be to be influenced by her husband to counter her negative influence over that world shuttering decision to coherce him into eating the fruit

[Amystl26]

Mankind was in a misogynistic state back then. The woman was seen as a childbearer and not much else. Biblical stories and often paintings placed the woman in the background, as if they had no importance. When less was understood about nature, men used to stone women on their period out of fear they were possessed. How many women were burned as witches for suffering mental illness?

To be true to the times, misogyny should be there so we don't forget our failures and can strive to do better.

That's such a great point: misogyny is true to the times of this book so it should be there. Well said!