Milton has very clear ideas about human sexuality and what is the wrong and right way to go about it. In the first part of book 9 Adam and Eve's relationship seems innocent. Sex isn't mentioned at all in book 9. I think looking at the wreath Adam makes for Eve is the way Milton wants sex to be portrayed in perfection. Adam "waiting desirous of her return, had wove of choicest flow'rs a garland to adorn her tresses" (line 840-842). Companionship is the emphasis her, Adam wants to be with Eve for her companionship. He symbolically drops the garland when Eve returns, like the loss of their innocence.
I think it is shocking that Adam and Eve seal their act by having sex. Milton seems in this book to portray all sex as bad since we don't get an example of "holy" sex. Their guilty sex is described as "they took their fill of love and love's disport took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal" (lines 1042-1043). Their relations are seen as excess and bad as a result. Milton really seems to have it out for everything that is woman. Even the physical side of their relationship is seen as bad and the sign of their guilt.
-Molly Hakso
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