Reason for God's Test of Adam?

While Kellie has already mentioned Adam asking for “something to complete his wonderful life” and has examined the idea of love in Book VIII, I would like to address the why.( Creation of Women by Kellie M. )

 When Adam asks God for a companion, God responds “not displeased” (VIII. 398) showing he is not upset with Adam’s request. Why does God not take offense? Why doesn’t God see this as Adam being greedy? Has he not given Adam a beautiful world to live in and plenty of creatures to observe and interact with? I find it hard that God does not seem insulted when one of his creations tells Him that he was not given enough. Instead God seems to have expected this, and wanted Adam to ask fro a companion. Why is this?

Does God know what solitude feels like being superior to all other living things, and therefore wants Adam to realize that solitude is not pleasant. That the need for a companion is something even God needs. Has God experienced loneliness first hand in a way that makes him feel that no other being shall be alone, thus creating all species with companions? The only difference between the two is that God can give to Adam an equal, but there can be no Equal to God. If there were an equal to God he would no longer be a superior being, the “omnipotent”.

Furthermore, God admits that Adams loneliness was a test: Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased” (VIII. 437) Why would God feel the need to test Adam? Is He taking precautions so that another rebellion does not occur? Or is He simply expanding Adams intellect? Must Adam feel the emotion of loneliness to fully appreciate a companion?

I personally think that God was testing Adam to see if he would stand up to God in an “acceptable” manner. By acceptable, I mean in a way that does not threaten God's position of power such as Satan’s stance in the rebellion. I believe that God may have realized that his creations may feel as though they need more then he initially gave them. Could God then be transforming himself from an autocratic ruler to one of Democracy?

I understand I have just posed a bunch of questions, some I hope to find the answers to and others I feel will never be answered. I have written this blog as I posed questions to myself in reflecting on God’s rule in Book VIII. These questions are things that I found either interesting, or contradictory to what we have seen so far in Paradise Lost.

Rebecca R.