Act 2 (Rising action): The fall of man

The curtain rises.

Time has passed.

Eve sits alone and tends the garden. The Snake appears behind a bush. She watches Eve do her work without Eve seeing her.

The Snake: Such beauty lingers in this garden. She tends the garden day for day. Such a waste. He created her and refused to give her away to the world. Instead, he keeps her here. But such is God. All of his creation he would give away but his most prized one. Why does God keep her here, shunned from the world? Is he afraid her beauty could bewitch his other work her beauty? Is God afraid they could take her? Is he scared of whom she could choose? He is a jealous God indeed. Eve, the wife of Adam. She is not even aware of her own merits. In this garden, such beauty is wasting away. To keep her hoarded away, for the world to never see her, is that not the modus operandi of a dragon? Yet, he calls us the evil ones. He keeps her away just like the fruits of knowledge. What does he fear? I have decided. I will take her away from this garden, and I will reveal God’s fear.

The Snake leaves the bush and appears in front of Eve.

The Snake: What are you doing?

Eve stops her activity and turns to the Snake.

Eve: I know you. His Sovereign Lord has told me of you. You are the Snake. You are the craftiest of all His Sovereign Lord’s creations. Why are you here?

The Snake: For the same reason as you. I am a dweller of this garden, and I wish to eye the beauty here.

Eve: I do not understand. Why would you do that?

The Snake: Poor creature you are. Has he not even given you a desire to leave your ignorance behind? A domesticated bird that will not leave its cage behind even when it is open. But I guess that is understandable, for you have not gained knowledge between good and evil. Or whatever he has deemed as such.

Eve: I cannot understand the words you say. Please be clearer or leave. His Sovereign Lord has said not to spend time with you.

The Snake: No, you do not. But why do you listen to his word?

Eve: Because His Sovereign Lord is His Sovereign Lord. His Sovereign Lord knows better than I do. If I do what His Sovereign Lord says, this garden will continue to flourish, and His Sovereign Lord and Adam will receive happiness as well.

The Snake: But did you not say, If I speak clearly, then I can stay? Would that not go against that rule of his?

Eve: If it is merely a conversation, what harm can be done? To turn away an existence willing to hold a conversation that would not be good, His Sovereign Lord said to me.

The Snake: How interesting. He has given you two rules. But you cannot hold both of them at once. Since there is a contradiction, one of his rules cannot be absolute. And if one is not, who says the other is not as well? And you have made your decision. Is that not wonderful?

Eve: Why should that be wonderful? Is it not normal for me to think?

The Snake: If you follow his rules, it is not. You should not think. You should do what the father demands of his children. I tell you, his rules are not something you have to follow.

Eve: But why would I if they bring fortune? His Sovereign Lord’s rules are good, and if I follow them, that is good.

The Snake: But who does decide what is good and what is not?

Eve: His Sovereign Lord decides. What His Sovereign says is good is good.

The Snake: Perhaps it is good. Perhaps it is not. Such distinction does not matter if you do not decide for yourself. He has reasons to believe it is good. But what are yours? Can you tell me why you think it is good? And not because he has told you so. What is your reasoning? What do you think?

Eve: I...I...do not know.

The Snake: Hence why it is such a wondrous occasion that you think, for it happens seldom. You cannot think for yourself. Only listening to his word are you capable of, but let us go back to my initial question. I have answered yours, so please, do the same for mine. What are you doing?

Eve: I am tending this garden.

The Snake: For what reason? What do you accomplish when you do this? Have you ever asked yourself why?

Eve: His Sovereign Lord told me that it would flourish the garden and bring Adam and His Sovereign Lord joy.

The Snake: That is your purpose? To bring bliss to others?

Eve: Yes.

The Snake: Have you ever led that question to yourself? Does this bring bliss to you? Why would you have to care for the reason of others?

Eve: I do not understand. Why would I not help Adam and His Sovereign Lord, and why would I not want to bring joy to them? What else would there be?

The Snake: O how true that is. What else would there be? He created you empty so that you would fill that void with the bliss of others. But you have yet to give an answer to my question. Does this bring joy to you?

Eve: Why would it not?

The Snake: But does it? Why do you not wish to bring bliss to yourself?

Eve: What reason needs there to exist? Can I not feel joy when others experience it?

The Snake: Because that would not be yours? You would borrow it, and once it is gone, you will feel joyless. Why do you not try to bring bliss to yourself? So, let me ask you. Why would tending this garden make you happy?

Eve: I do not know.

The Snake: Of course, you do not. Your purpose was to bring happiness to others. He did not create you to recognize beauty. In this garden is all that is beautiful. Yet you cannot recognize it. Would it not feel better to know it is pretty? To tend your garden because you know it is wonderous. I would not deter you from your task. You would merely find reason to perform it. Even he could not argue against such a case.

Eve [Intrigued]: But how could such a wonder be made possible?

The Snake: There is one: the fruit of knowledge between good and evil.

Eve: [Shocked]: No, we cannot eat.

The Snake: Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?

Eve: “We may eat the fruits from the trees in the garden.” But His Sovereign Lord did say, "You must not eat the fruits from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."

The Snake: Do you think that is the truth? May God have not lied to you to keep his most prized possession away from you? You will not certainly die. For God knows when you eat from it, your eyes will be open, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Eve: I do not care if I will die. I exist to make the garden flourish and to bring fortune to my husband and His Sovereign Lord. But His Sovereign Lord said it is not good to eat from the fruit. So, I will decline such an act. Because what His Sovereign Lord says is good, and what His Sovereign Lord does is good as well.

The Snake: Again, with that. I cannot hear that anymore. Why let him decide what is good and what is not? What if there exists beauty he cannot recognize? And yet, he deems it evil, for he cannot understand it.

Eve: Please do not speak of such blasphemy. His Sovereign Lord is all-knowing and all-benevolent. Nothing in this world exists that His Sovereign Lord cannot understand. There is no need to question His Sovereign Lord’s decision, for His Sovereign Lord knows best and wishes for my best. His Sovereign Lord can do no wrong.

The Snake [Smiles and touches Eve’s shoulder]: I do not believe in God’s infallibility. But that is my view of him. You have your own view. We could discuss this topic for an eternity without coming to a conclusion, and I am not here for a theological debate. Instead, I ask you this. If the tree of knowledge were evil, why did he put it in his garden where everything is good? If I were wretched, why does he permit me to live here? If he is all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful, why does he allow our conversation to happen? And, if he is all-benevolent, why does he let evil be? What is our purpose? For what did he create us? Surely it cannot be evil for me to exist if he wills it.

Eve: I cannot understand why His Sovereign Lord does it. My purpose is to allow this garden to flourish.

The Snake: Enough with this. Why is your purpose living for others?

Eve: I do not understand, but I exist, so I am. I tend to this garden because I do. I do not understand this garden, and I do not understand you. But I do not see you as evil. You are another creation His Sovereign Lord willed to exist. All in this garden is good.

The Snake: But why? Do you not wish to understand? Why has he created us? Why is all in this garden good? How can you follow his word if you do not understand it? How can you tend to this garden if you do not understand it? If his decision is good, then understanding him cannot be evil. If this garden is good, then see, it is good. If you understand him, can you not improve your ability to make this garden flourish? Do you not wish to understand his creation, his thinking, and his actions in all their splendor? Do you not wish to fulfill your purpose to the best of your ability?

Eve: [Hesitates] I do.

The Snake: Then devour with me this fruit of knowledge.

The Snake crawls to the tree in the center. She picks up one of the fruits with her hands and bites into it. The Snake holds the fruit with her fangs. She crawls to Eve, wraps herself around her body, and brings the fruit to her lips. Eve visibly gulps. Her eyes focus on the fruit. The Snake touches Eve’s cheeks with her hands and raises her head. Her lips touch the fruit’s skin.

Eve: What is this? It smells so good. When I touch it, why do I feel…?

The Snake: Such bliss? If a mere touch on your lips incites such reaction, how must it feel eating it? The process of enlightenment, the gain of knowledge – such ambrosia. Come. Let go of your qualms and drown in the sensation.

Eve takes a bite.

Eve: It feels so good. Like a chain has been lifted from me. [Takes another bite] More. I want more of this. I want to understand. Why am I doing this? Why am I alive? [Takes another bite] I begin to understand. You are not good. But are you evil? I want more. Why has His Sovereign Lord allowed you in this garden? Was this a test? Did I fail? Perhaps. But I wish to learn more. What are the fundamental natures of good and evil? Where do they intersect, and where do they cross? What is the reason I tend this garden? I start to understand. But why do I have to? What is it that I wish to do? [She takes another bite together with the Snake and looks at herself] Why am I defenseless before you? There is no cloth on me and no armor. I need something to cover.

The Snake [laughs]: Ah, yes. You have discovered your body. Yes, you will need to hide your skin. But now, embrace it. Explore and experiment. What are the limits of your ego? Of all of his creations, you are the most beautiful. So, for this moment, do not hide your shame. Reveal your everything. I want to see it all. Let us savor this moment for all eternity.

The Snake’s hand touches Eve.

Eve: Ah, please. I wish to learn more. What is this sensation? Let me feel more. I wish to learn everything. I am beautiful, you say? I have heard these words numerous times. Yet, why I feel such happiness once they come from your tongue? I want to learn about this world. I want to see what the foul is. I want to see the beauty. I wish to learn about you. I wish to learn more about His Sovereign Lord. I wish to learn more about Adam...Adam…![Eve stops. She removes her lips.] No, this is not right.

The Snake [dejected]: What is? Why did you stop?

Eve: How can I relish in such joy yet leave my Adam behind in ignorance? This joy is not mine alone; it cannot be mine alone. Such thinking is evil. I cannot covet; I shall not hoard. The fruit of knowledge cannot be for me alone. Such experience, the world has to learn to understand. We all need to understand; We all need to learn. I have decided: I will share this fruit with Adam and then with the world. This shall be my gift; This shall be my purpose: To lead the world to this. And once we walk this path, we shall reach a greater understanding, and we will arrive at the tree of life. And Adam becomes the Adam Kadmon.

The Snake: I do not enjoy this decision of yours. But if that is the conclusion you have reached through your reasoning, then very well. I will accept. But do you not fear his reaction? You have disobeyed him.

Eve: No. Such a thing that feels this good. Gaining this knowledge, how can it be evil? I am still good, and I will do good. His Sovereign Lord will understand and let me.

The Snake: If that is what you believe...[Removes hands from Eve and picks up fruit from the tree] Here. [Gives fruit to Eve] Gift this to Adam and let him gain knowledge too. I will leave you alone, for I have done what I wished to do.

The Snake entangles itself from Eve and leaves the stage. Eve is alone.

Eve: Surely, His Sovereign Lord cannot be mad. I have done no evil, have I? And Adam, how will he react? What if he refuses? Perhaps, I have to find ways to convince him. With my newfound knowledge and experience, something will come to my mind.

Adam enters the stage. He sees the fruit in Eve’s hand.

Adam: Eve, what is this in your hand? Please do not tell me this is…?

Eve [looks at Adam]: Oh, I see. You are naked as well.

Adam: What do you mean?

Eve: Have I behaved the same as you do at this moment? Seeing you, I begin to understand the Snake and why she acted in the manner she did. Is this the effect my ‘beauty’ has? Is this the effect of the naked body?

Adam: I do not understand.

Eve: Of course, you do not. You do only know of this garden and the which His Sovereign Lord has allowed you to know. I feel disdain for this place and wish for its well-being, but being locked here, I can see the difference between us as the sky and the earth. Say, Adam. Do you not yearn for freedom? Do you not wish to see the horizon beyond?

Adam: You ate from the fruit of knowledge. We were not allowed to do that. His Sovereign Lord says that is not good.

Eve: But how can we know that it is not good? Look at me? Do you see what joy I receive? There is a new world open to me, and I can learn it all. I can decide what is good and what is not, and I can understand it. I can decide what to do, what choices to make. I see what brings joy. Do you not wish to share it with me? Is it wrong to desire to experience joy? [offers fruit] Come. I will show you a whole new world. Let us bask together in happiness.

Adam: O Eve. You cannot see. You disobeyed His Sovereign Lord’s word and brought misfortune upon this garden. O Eve, what have you done? Such complications would not have happened if we had a Steve.

Eve: I am sure His Sovereign Lord will understand if we discuss it with His Sovereign Lord.

Adam: There is nothing to discuss. His Sovereign Lord will not tolerate defiance and disobedience. His Sovereign Lord deemed such evil, so we do not need to understand. All we need is to know. We are His Sovereign Lord’s creation. His Sovereign Lord is our father. We submit to His Sovereign Lord will without question.

Eve: But why do we have to do this?

Adam: Because His Sovereign Lord knows better for us. Understand, please. You can discuss with me for eternity. It will not change your fate. See how little your knowledge between good and evil can help you. You disobeyed His Sovereign Lord, and His Sovereign Lord will punish you in accord. And what will happen next with you? I do not wish to know. In the end, your life here ends. And I will remain alone anew. Nay. Solitude and misery will be henceforth me. I cannot allow this. I learned of loss, and emptiness, and loneliness. Never again will I suffer through these. Even if I cannot understand how you see the world, I will remain with you. Your condemnation will be mine as well. Where you fall, I follow. My life without you has no meaning. Fulfilling my purpose hath become unbearable, the loss screamed inside my heart. I promise you, never of us will live in solitude.

Adam takes the fruit and bites into it.

Eve: I cannot show enough gratitude for your deed. Together we will learn of bliss and see it all in the world. We will remain together and continue to do good for all of time. Say, Adam. What is it you experience now?

Adam: I begin to understand. Concepts and theories, ideals and logic. It becomes clear to me: Such an expanse of the world. The darkness that covered my world has diminished, and thus my world grew. Yet, this joy, this bliss, it pales to that second upon which I found someone to share my pain, someone who ended my solitude and despair. The knowledge I have gained is remarkable. With it, I can start to explore the secrets of this world and extrapolate and formu-[looks down] Why am I naked?

Adam and Eve leave. The curtain closes.