“Theology” explores eating and its significance. Adam consumes the apple. He ingests and swallows it. He also devours it since, by eating it, he destroys it—he eliminates it and makes it go away. At the same time, the apple, accounting for its religious symbolism, devours Adam; it destroys his resolve as he can’t fight the temptation to eat it. Finally, Adam absorbs the apple and it becomes a part of his person and body. The apple may also absorb Adam because it brings Adam into its clutches and makes Adam a part of it.

Eve might want to consume, devour, and absorb Adam for varied reasons. She may consume him because he’s been disobedient. Eating him is her way of punishing him. She breaks him down or devours him and, thus, shows her power over him. Conversely, she might absorb Adam so that the apple, via Adam, can become a part of her person. She, too, wants the forbidden knowledge that the apple represents.

When the serpent eats Eve, he may consume not just her but Adam and the apple. If the apple is in Adam, and Adam and the apple are in Eve, then all three are in the serpent.