Summary of Criticism

In Joeseph A. Wittreich Jr.'s article From Critiquing the Feminist Critique, Wittreich dispels the common notion that women should be and generally are offended by Milton's portrayal of Eve as the ruiner of man-kind. Wittreich explains that Milton's works were popular among both sexes during the eighteenth century, and that women actually respected Milton's work as much, if not more, than men of the time did.Wittreich also uses the views of other critics, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, to explain why many women find no offense in Paradise Lost. Wollstonecraft did not feel that Milton's Eve is not a stereotype by which women should characterize themselves because it is actually, "commentary not on women but on men from whose imagination she sprang- from Milton's Adam, before him, from Milton himself."
Other critics noted, such as C.P. Moritz, gave a completely different take on women's view of Paradise Lost, claiming that many women do not identify with Eve at all. Mortiz explains that women who felt that they were "victimized by male-dominated society," often identified most closely with Satan. These women felt that their life struggles were reflected within Satan's struggles, so they can easily connect with Satan as they read.
I find the above arguments very interesting because I had never considered that fact that women were just as enthralled with Paradise Lost as men were in the eighteenth century. Also, it intrigues me that women so were so easily able to rationalize Milton's thoughts without offense, sometimes regarding Eve's interpretation as one created by the minds of men, or simply instead identifying with the struggles of Satan. I cannot say that necessarily feel the same way about Eve's representation, but now will have an idea of how to look at Eve from different perspectives.

Sheryl W.