Now, as an opposite force to all of this peace in the previous song - we are introduced to the constant figure of asymmetry. The tempting force of evil. Of wrongdoing against the status quo. Of rebellion against God. In the Garden of Eden tale this is personified by a serpent. this serpent was later identified with the figure of Satan.
In this piece, Man is made as an image of God in flesh. He is most wonderful, but is told to beware the future. Man thinks of the world as his. His paradise. His day - the day of man over all. And yet woman is also created and in this tale as the container of Satan's hold over mankind! This has been a popular image of women in many religions. Gabriel's lyrics reflect some of this - Hermaphroditus in his version of the Myth of the Hermaphrodite does not WANT at fist to join with the Nymph Salmacis. The character of Rael in The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tells a passing prostitue "Don't look at me I'm not your kind".
Man says that "this heaven will always be mine" - this is, of course, ironic as in the tale of the Garden of Eden Man and Woman are both expelled from paradise.
Once more the guiding hand (of fate?) is evoked...
Now, as an opposite force to all of this peace in the previous song - we are introduced to the constant figure of asymmetry. The tempting force of evil. Of wrongdoing against the status quo. Of rebellion against God. In the Garden of Eden tale this is personified by a serpent. this serpent was later identified with the figure of Satan. In this piece, Man is made as an image of God in flesh. He is most wonderful, but is told to beware the future. Man thinks of the world as his. His paradise. His day - the day of man over all. And yet woman is also created and in this tale as the container of Satan's hold over mankind! This has been a popular image of women in many religions. Gabriel's lyrics reflect some of this - Hermaphroditus in his version of the Myth of the Hermaphrodite does not WANT at fist to join with the Nymph Salmacis. The character of Rael in The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tells a passing prostitue "Don't look at me I'm not your kind". Man says that "this heaven will always be mine" - this is, of course, ironic as in the tale of the Garden of Eden Man and Woman are both expelled from paradise. Once more the guiding hand (of fate?) is evoked...