Milton and the serpent

I think it is interesting in 'Paradise Lost' how Milton portrays the serpent and how he explains why Eve listened to the serpent. I have always wondered why Eve was so easily convinced by the serpent, and what happened that is not described in the Bible passage. While I do not necessarily agree with Milton's version of events, I think it is very interesting how the serpent tells Eve that he had already eaten of the tree and it had given him speech, how the serpent was beautiful, and how the serpent manages to persuade Eve that it was alright right after she tells him that it means death to eat from the tree.

Rachel Means