Evil
Aemilia Lanyer uses irony and sarcasm in her poem, "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women". She uses sarcasm to address the issue of female inequality, and uses imagery and ironic undertones to make the poem effective.
In the first stanza, Lanyer begins the poem with an image of women being equal with men and at times even better. She states that Pilate should have listened to his wife when she asked him to spare her savior, Jesus' life. Lanyer is establishing the theme of defending women because she is putting Pilate's wife in a holier and more esteemed position than him. She begged for "her Saviour's life" (8), and yet, Pilate did not take her advice, and opted instead to have nothing ...
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stronger than Eve and should have been able to resist her temptation. "What weakness offered, strength might have refused, Being lord of all, the greater was his shame�For he was lord and king of all the earth, Before poor Eve had either life or breath" (35-36, 39-40). This statement is ironic because Lanyer does not believe that women are weak or that men are stronger. She goes on to chide Adam for "lay(ing) the fault on Patience' back" (49) and wonders why women must put up with the stigma attached with being held responsible for the fall of humankind. It wasn't that he was "persuaded" (54) by Eve to eat the apple, it was that he lacked discretion. Lanyer gives the idea that Eve was betrayed by the serpent's "falsehood" (55), but because Adam is superior to Eve, he was not betrayed by the serpent, rather he chose to eat of the apple. Eve's only fault is that she wished to give a gift to her "dear" (58), however, he had the strength to decline the offering and did ...
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Evil. (2007, September 19). Retrieved May 18, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Evil/71418
"Evil." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 19 Sep. 2007. Web. 18 May. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Evil/71418>
"Evil." Essayworld.com. September 19, 2007. Accessed May 18, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Evil/71418.
"Evil." Essayworld.com. September 19, 2007. Accessed May 18, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Evil/71418.
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