Allegorical Interpretation

Philo takes a very Christian interpretation of the events of the Garden of Eden as the origin of evil. The notion of a downfall of humanity is completely reflected in Philo's statement that the first humans "exchange[d] the life of immortality and well-being for the life of mortality and misfortune" (151-152). The events in the garden according to Philo seem to be summed up by one phrase: everything was peachy untill Eve showed up. His position on physical unity and its tie to the origin of evil is controversial. God creates Eve as a counterpart to Adam, and in effect they "become one flesh" (Gen 2:24). If the becoming one flesh is interpreted as producing offspring, then god's intention for creating Eve included sexual reproduction. Philo ties reproduction with desire and "bodily pleasure, which is the starting point of wicked deeds and violations of the Law" (151-152). This seems a bit contradictory that an act ordained by god is the root of all wicked deeds.

I found it interesting to note again the similarity to greek mythology in the joining of "two separate halves of a single being" (151-152). It is interesting how in the same passage Philo can talk about Adam and Eve as two separate halves of the same being, almost giving them a sense of equality, and also separate them so much as the pure and the evil. Eve is Adam's complete separate half, yet "becomes for him the beginning of blameworthy life" (151-152). Apparently god divided things just perfectly so that all good segregated into Adam, and all evil into Eve.

The references to female inferiority are innumerable and are becoming commonplace. Thankfully, we are beginning to see the images of male and female take on more complex roles than just superior and inferior. The allegorical implications of Origen suggest that maleness takes on a meaning of the spirit, and femininity takes on the meaning of the soul. This may just be another way to characterize male as strong and full of vitality, and the woman as delicate and quiet, but these meanings further elucidate (or complicate) the story's implications. Taking the Garden of Eden story as an allegory, we can delve into discussions such as what it might mean for the spirit to dominate over the soul, and which is of higher importance, the spirit or the soul. These allegorical symbols seem to obscure the meaning of the story to me, because how can it be that the soul is the root of evil, or responsible for mortality? Maybe I am taking the comparison too literally, but to use Eve as a representation of the soul should apply to all aspects of the story if it is an allegory, not just specific ones.