Adam and Eve: Set Up to Fail In the story paradise lost Adam and Eve were forbidden by God to eat the fruit of knowledge. This was their only rule in the garden, but despite this they both end up giving in to temptation and eating the fruit of knowledge. This is because Adam and Eve were set up by God to fall. First off, Adam and Eve are created only shortly before the fall. This lack of age means that they are not fully developed or mature and that they lack the knowledge to stay out of trouble. We as humans learn from mistakes and they had not made any mistakes yet to learn from. On top of that they were swayed by the devil to eat the fruit of knowledge, and due to the fact that the devil disguised as a serpent was the only socialization they received besides each other you can see why they believed what the devil said. Also in a world where there are only two people and they have never met another person who lied or deceived them, why wouldn't they trust the devil? In fact they know so little that when Eve first meets Satan in his serpent form she questions the fact that a serpent is talking:

How Cam'st thou speakable of mute and how To me so friendly grown above the rest Of brutal kind that daily are in sight? (9.563-565)

but after a quick “explanation” from Satan:

Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill I spared not, for such pleasure till that hour At feed or fountain never had I found. Sated at length ere long I might perceive Strange alteration in me to degree Of reasons in my inward pow'rs, and speech Wanted not long though to this shape retained. (9.595-601)

Eve eventually accepts it. So even though Adam and Eve have free will curiosity took over. Another thing to notice is how Satan gained entrance to the garden. He ended up finding a secret passage to sneak past the guards:

Found unsuspected way. There was a place, Now not (though sin, not time, first wrought the change) Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise Into a gulf shot underground till part Rose up a fountain by the Tree of Life. (9.69-73)

If God created this garden wouldn't he be aware of any passages or an extra entrance into the garden? It seems as if the entrance was meant to be found by Satan so he could gain access to the garden and persuade Eve to eat the fruit of knowledge. Otherwise wouldn't God defend that entrance as well? Now, some might say that Adam and Eve fell only by fault of their own. The question then is: why wouldn't God block the tree from access or not include it as part of the garden all together? It would be similar to telling a child to not touch something, setting that item within clear reach and then leaving the room. The child may not touch the item immediately but eventually after a while curiosity would get the better of them and they would want to touch it, even if it was just to find out what would happen. So the question remains why wouldn't you put it out of reach in the first place knowing that the child would touch it against your wishes? Or is it just an elaborate way to teach the child (or Adam and Eve) a lesson? God also makes the fruit of knowledge being forbidden Adam and Eve's only rule. If I told you “Don't think of a grey Elephant” what would be the first thing to come into your mind? Most likely you are going to be thinking of a grey Elephant. It's the same case with God's only rule. Of course Adam and Eve are going to think of what they are told to ignore especially since they are young of age. It may even be all they think about, the idea may consume them. This idea of gaining more knowledge or gaining power can consume any human. Even more so when all the knowledge and power you could ever want it within arms reach. After Eve eats the fruit of knowledge she debates weather she should share with Adam or be superior to him:

Shall I to him make known As yet my change and give him to partake Full happiness with me? Or rather not, But keep the odds of knowledge in my pow'r Without copartner so to add what wants In female sec, the more to draw his love And render me more equal and, perhaps, A thing not understandable, sometime Superior: for inferior who is free? (9.817-825)

This passage shows how knowledge or power can affect how people act and think. It shows that just the thought of having knowledge is powerful enough to make people consider turning on the people they love most. This proves that God simply putting this idea of power in Adam and Eve's heads set them up to fall. So why would God set up Adam and eve? Perhaps it was to see how much restraint humans could show and how long they would last before they caved in. Or perhaps it was to test Satan knowing that he would try to ruin God's creation. To wrap up, In the story paradise lost Adam and Eve were forbidden by God to eat the fruit of knowledge. This was their only rule in the garden, but despite this they both end up giving in to temptation and eating the fruit of knowledge. Due to Adam and Eve's lack of age, their lack of maturity, God allowing Satan into the garden, God leaving the fruit of knowledge within reach, and God implanting this idea of knowledge and power and associating it with the fruit, God has set up Adam and Eve to fall.