Author Description

Encountering Eve's Afterlives: A New Reception Critical Approach To Genesis 2-4 Aims To Destabilize The Persistently Pessimistic Framing Of Eve As A Highly Negative Symbol Of Femininity Within Western Culture By Engaging With Marginal, And Even Heretical, Interpretations That Focus On More Positive Aspects Of Her Character. In Doing So, This Book Questions The Myth That Orthodox, Popular Readings Represent The 'true' Meaning Of The First Woman's Story, And Explores The Possibility That Previously Ignored Or Muted Rewritings Of Eve Are In Fact Equally 'valid' Interpretations Of The Biblical Text. By Staging Encounters Between The Biblical Eve And Re-writings Of Her Story, Particularly Those That Help To Challenge The Interpretative Status Quo, This Book Re-frames The First Woman Using Three Key Themes From Her Story: Sin, Knowledge, And Life. Thus, It Considers How And Why The Image Of Eve As A Dangerous Temptress Has Gained Considerably More Cultural Currency Than The Equally Viable Pictures Of Her As A Subversive Wise Woman Or As A Mourning Mother. The Book Offers A Re-evaluation Of The Meanings And The Myths Of Eve, Deconstructing The Dominance Of Her Cultural Incarnation As A Predominantly Flawed Female, And Reconstructing A More Nuanced Presentation Of The First Woman's Role In The Bible And Beyond. --book Jacket Back Cover Gallery One Encountering Eve: A Guide -- Narrative Criticism -- Ancient Intertexts And Interpretations -- Reception Criticism -- Gallery Two. Sin -- Part I. Eve And Sin In The Hebrew Bible -- Part Ii. Ancient Intertexts And Interpretations -- Jewish And Christian Reception Of Eve As Anti-intellect -- Part Iii. Jewish And Christian Reception Of Eve As Anti-intellect -- Part Iv. Jewish And Christian Reception Of Eve As Sinful Mother -- Gallery Three. Knowledge -- Part I. Eve And Knowledge In The Hebrew Bible -- Part Ii. Ancient Intertexts And Interpretations -- Part Iii. Gnostic Reception Of Eve As A Figure Of Knowledge -- Part Iv. Postmodern Feminist Reception Of Eve As A Figure Of Knowledge -- Gallery Four. Life -- Part I. Mother Eve In The Hebrew Bible -- Part Ii. Ancient Intertexts And Interpretations -- Part Iii. Mother Eve In The Visual Arts -- Part Iv Mother Eve In The Work Of Pre-twentieth-century Women Writers -- Gallery Five. Everywoman Eve. Holly Morse. Revision Of Author's Thesis (doctoral)--university Of Bristol. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [211]-230) And Index. In English With Some Ancient Hebrew Phrases And English Translation.