Of late I have been reading the english version of Sefer Ha-Aggadah , edited by Hayim Nahman Bialik and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky. It has been immensely englightening, making me realise how sorely deprived our educational system is in that it does cover midrash in a systematic, sophisticated fashion.
There is an interesting Midrash I came accross from Midrash Rabbah 19:3, that presents in my opinion a rather interesting reading of the fall of man, one that I had not seen or thought of before.
Then the serpent touched the tree with his hands and feet, shaking it until its fruit fell to the ground. The tree then credit out. Villain, do not touch me – "Let not hte foot of pride overtake me, and let not the hand of wicked shake me" (Ps 36:12). The serpent said to the woman, "Look, I touched the tree, yet I did not die. You, too, if you touch it, will not die." Right away, he pushed her and she touched the tree.
When she saw the angel of death coming toward her, she said "Woe is me! I am as good as dead, and the Holy one will make another woman and give her to Adam." Immediately "she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate" (Gen 3:6)
If I am I correct in my understanding, according to this midrash, the eating of the apple was a suicide attempt by a jealous love-struck Eve, who would rather her and Adam die together then leave him for another woman, ala Romeo and Juliet. Perhaps I am reading too much into it, but that appears to be the intent of the midrash in my mind. Interesting isnt it….?