Milton bases his great epic upon Judea-Christian myth manifested in Genesis, which he believes to be true, at least artistically and theologically. Within this large framework, however, he devises another myth in smaller scale, and it takes the form o ...

Milton bases his great epic upon Judea-Christian myth manifested in Genesis, which he believes to be true, at least artistically and theologically. Within this large framework, however, he devises another myth in smaller scale, and it takes the form of Eve's dream. Eve's dream displays many aspects that can be typically found in Greek mythology, i.e. transformation of human being into god. As a myth it not only reveals her state of mind when she dreams but also significantly influences her thoughts and feelings afterwards.
Satan becomes a romantic seducer in Eve's dream and offers her more than what her husband can possibly for her. Eve's dream allows her to fulfill the desire to rise beyond her given role as a submissive wife. In her dream she experiences and ecstasy, both sexual and intellectual, after her violation of the rule imposed upon her by authorities--God's and Adam's. Although the dream is instigated by Satan, it becomes something that remains deep in Eve's mind after she wakes up, and it starts controlling her way of looking at things thereafter. Her behavior after the dream shows some obvious signs that she is changed. Eve's change marks the Renaissance emergence of a female identify whose evolution has continued into the present century. Adam tries to deny or diminish the impact of Eve's dream, but by nature myth cannot be erased or cancelled by one's effort.
Eve's dream is a myth within myth, and this somewhat sophisticated structure contributes greatly to the artistic coherence of the work Placing a man-centered myth in the middle of the grand Judea-Christian myth, Milton provides us with a clue to the meaning of man's Fall, paradise lost.