The diary
A diary is the place where one shares the most intimate feelings and hopes. By choosing this form of writing, Twain presents the reader with the inner thoughts of the first two people. The Diaries of Adam and Eve suggests thereby that confusion, fears, longing, and loneliness have been accompanying every human being since the beginning of time on the journey through life. This symbol also indicates the fact that humans have always had the wish to share their experiences and eternalize them.
The serpent
The serpent is a famous Biblical symbol which has been persistently present in the Western culture ever since. It is a symbol of cruelty and mortality, as it is thought of as an incarnation of the Satan which seduces Eve to take the forbidden fruit. However, the snake also suggests that mistakes make us human as well as give us the opportunity to learn from them and become better persons.
The fire
The fire discovered by Eve represents curiosity and knowledge. Only by searching and striving to know more, the human can grow and evolve. The fire is also connected to warmth and marks the emergence of warm feeling between Adam and Eve as the first man is also fascinated by it.
The Falls
The Falls in Twain’s piece mark the differences between the sexes. Adam sees The Falls as an adventure, an exciting leisure activity. For Eve, they represent a danger – the danger of losing a loved one. This symbol suggests that there were and will always be contrarieties between the sexes which should be worked on in order for two people to start a life together.
The Experiment
In most of her entries, Eve describes herself as an “Experiment”. This word suggests that the human beings are unpredictable and may not always succeed in what they’re doing. Adam and Eve’s journey is full of failures such as the domestication of the stegosaurus or the expulsion from Eden. The experiment as a symbol of human existence leads the reader to the conclusion that only by trying and by meeting with failure, one can find the right way through life.
