eve book review

eve book review

Book Review: Evaluating “Eve”

1. Introduction

Victor Nell presents in “Lost in a Book”, a very complex and interesting model on the processes and effects of reading. As I read through the first part of his model, I began to think about how I would apply the points made to my own reading processes and habits. Doing so made the model more valuable to me because it made me think about what Nell had to say as well as think about my own reading strategies. Throughout this paper I will evaluate the first part of Nell’s model, where it was effective, and the implications for people and literature. Nell’s model explains processing which involves the reader treating the information on some level of reality. This can manifest on several levels. The most literally it means to take what is read as being truthful and accrete it to our understanding of the world.

2. Plot Summary

The narrative begins by introducing both the protagonist, Marion, and her sense of unease. Marion is a New York actor who has moved to England in pursuit of a quieter life. As a single woman, Marion both desires and fears companionship. She desires companionship as she chooses to rent a cottage in a rural part of London; simultaneously, she fears it as she is tormented by the fear that someone or something is watching her. This fear neither hinders nor helps her; rather, it becomes an accepted part of her daily routine. Events go on in predictable fashion; Marion is courted by a variety of suitors, none of whom impress her. In consequence she remains in partial isolation. This state changes once she meets Bachelard, an archaeologist, and his artist friend Dr. Hodge. These men are sophist and sensualist, respectively. Marion enjoys their company and is drawn towards Bachelard. This draws the ire of the artist and sets up the romantic tension present throughout the rest of the novel. Marion is invited to participate in the artistic experiment.

3. Character Analysis

Post 2: The Apple Argument – Fair or Foul? The weight of the transgression by Eve has been argued much in the past. It has been said that the action was a self-serving one – the desire for divine equality. Some claim that the action was even malicious, that Eve had envy for God and had listened to the serpent with the intent of conducting God’s prohibition. But some hold to the belief that human nature was simply weak and that Adam and Eve had no intention of exchanging their command for servitude. Milton looks to depict her motives and the consequences of her action in an attempt to explain why the Fall occurred.

Post 1: The Goodness of Her Heart In “The End of the Affair”, Lieutenant Smythe brings to Bendrix’s attention that Bendrix’s lover Sarah is too giving and not logical. I would say that this quote relates to Eve in “Paradise Lost”. Eve was made by God completely pure and sinless, giving her a heart of gold. But at the same time, it gave her the stupidity of not knowing what the consequences of her actions might come to be. Knowing that disobedience is in itself a sin, Adam and Eve eat the apple and go against God’s command. Eve embodies the positive characteristics that Milton valued. And unlike most discussions involving Eve, the tragic consequences that occur from her actions do not take away from the idealized portrayal of Eve.

4. Themes and Messages

In the theme of social commentary and implications of social evolution, the game really begins to shine. By using the Earth as a starting point and devising the backstory that humanity had to leave due to environmental collapse, they highlight an issue that is very relevant to the modern world. The idea of a world so ridden with pollution and environmental damage is one that many people take for granted today and “Eve” suggests that even with the potential development of technology the human race will still have to face these issues. Using the various societies of each race, “Eve” then goes on to make implications of present social issues and past conflicts. The use of satire in the differences in the ideology between the two Caldari nations is a clear reference to the division between Western and Eastern blocks during the Cold War. The game, if it were to go deeper into this, would have a chance to not only record history but also reflect on humanity as a whole in a context seen from no other game to date.

5. Conclusion

To commence, a work of nature was defined by the medieval philosophers as something that was created by natural forces and had no need of an external agent, it might be said today that it was created by natural, genetic instructions/programs and did not need human intervention. In the work of nature the highest artifact and most nearly approaching nature itself was man, whom according to Christian belief was made in the image of God, using the male image. This is similar to the scientists’ belief that if they were to create something in the likeness of the human, it would be the most complex and greatest achievement of artificial life. Work of art, was anything made with a conscious human effort including artifacts and humans themselves, the belief still exist in modern times due to human curiosity and questioning of whether the human may be recreated. This was the starting point of Wertheim’s integration of issues, showing how with Eve being a work of nature, it was represented in the highest form of man. The human artist at that time, had no method in making a second human, but in a sense it was attempted in the 13th century with the re-creation of the male image, in the carving of an angel. The work of nature was described by Margaret as having a sense of quiet emulation of the work of art, to a degree where there was an attempt to demonstrate God’s artistry by making a man. This was constantly shown throughout the tale of Eve, who was programmed to seek knowledge and become more intelligent, tried various methods to constantly better herself and Anselm went off to continually try and better the previous Eve that died.

It is said by many individuals that Margaret Wertheim has created her own tale or her own creation myth with Pythagoras Trousers that replaces or displaces the myth of the fall from the Garden of Eden of Adam and Eve. With Eve, who is an Artificial Life form and the creation by scientists at CALT, as the main focus of a novel that brings up a number of scientific, ethical, philosophical, and religious issues and concerns. But Margaret Wertheim doesn’t really replace the traditional myth with her own, instead she integrates themes and issues of it throughout the entire tale, showing the significance and connection to work of nature and work of art in the 13th and 14th century. There are similarities and differences on how art was created and identified in the Middle Ages to the creation of Eve in modern times.