Adam and Eve (Allegory)
The foundation upon which this poem rests is the story of Adam and Eve, the original humans in the Bible. In Genesis 3, Eve is tricked by the serpent into consuming fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam also eats the fruit, and when God discovers what transpired, He punishes the couple by banishing them from Eden. The poem is written from Eve's point of view, and she shares her take on Adam's reaction to their punishment and his subsequent efforts to replace God and improve life on earth. The poem both relies on and diverges from the original story due to Eve's awareness of modernity.
Caves (Symbol)
Eve describes how after the couple was banished from Eden, they lived in "draughty caves" where they experienced hunger and had to work very hard to live. Despite the cold discomfort of the caves as described early on in the poem, Eve later states that "It was warmer than this in the cave" while speaking about modern life. In general, caves are considered to be a primitive kind of shelter. In contrast with the modern structures of cities, many people would express distaste at the idea of living in a cave. Eve, however, seems to prefer life in the caves. This symbolizes a preference for the simplicity of the past.
Becoming God (Symbol)
As Eve states in the poem, Adam "has turned himself into God." When Adam developed his propensity to figure out the mechanism of things, he felt that he must have invented those very things because he understood how they worked. This process of becoming God is characterized by Eve as a fault of hubris; she describes how Adam's pride had been hurt, how he had always been jealous, and was always an egotist. All of this symbolizes a human error that will lead to the downfall of humanity. It is for this reason that Eve tells her female descendants that it is time they took over and assumed leadership roles.
