In Comus and in Paradise Lost Milton created two arguing, flattering demons who attempt to seduce two women. In one case the tempter wins, in the other case the woman triumphs. The difference in outcomes occurs despite the fact that Satan and Comus use very similar arguments to achieve their ends. The two cases are predetermined. There is little suspense about whether the Lady will succumb to Comus and, although Milton creates a literary type of suspense in Paradise Lost, there is certainly no question about Eve eating the forbidden fruit. The question of why one is successful and the other is not does not depend on the abilities of Comus or Satan, however, but on what it is they have to offer and the resources of the women with whom they argue. The Lady in Comus has a clear sense of sin and its meaning. Eve's sense of this is far less certain. In addition, the Lady aspires toward a positive virtue that comes from within herself while Eve is obeying (or disobeying) a prohibition and is not acting out of inner strength.
The similarity between the two encounters includes the first reactions of the two tempters. Both are impressed by the great beauty of their intended victims. But they are surprised for different reasons. Satan arriving in the Garden of Paradise is like "one who long in populous City pent" (445) escapes to the fresh air of the country. When he sees Eve her smallest actions "overaw'd / His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd / His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought" and for a brief moment he stands awed and "stupidly good, of enmity disarm'd" (459-61, 465). But he quickly recovers himself as his hatred actually feeds on such examples of God's greatness. Comus too is startled by the Lady's beauty but, more importantly, he also recognizes the qualities of goodness in her. On seeing her Comus asks can earth really produce "such Divine enchanting ravishment?'(245) and remarks that "Sure something ...