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The City of God · Character

Adam

The first man, whose single act of disobedience let death into the world and split humanity into two cities.

supporting

Also known as XV That Adam

First appearance: part i book i

As a supporting figure in The City of God, Adam is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Representing the first man in Paradise, whose blessedness was uncertain due to the possibility of sin.
In the storyChapter XII: A Comparison of the Blessedness of the Righteous and Our First Parents in ParadiseOpen this moment free

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Adam stands at the origin of Augustine's whole scheme: one man's sin transmitted to all his descendants, making the human race a massa damnata in need of grace. His fall is not just a moral anecdote but the historical…

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The fuller portrait of Adam sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Adam in part i book i

Character Web

22 connections

A slice of how Adam sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

MVMarcus VarroTETerahRERehoboamMEMethuselahJCJesus ChristADAdam

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Early Biblical Genealogy
  • Patriarchs and Pagan Figures
  • Abraham's Family
  • Diverse Historical and Biblical Figures
  • Protagonist

+17 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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In the story

Adam appears across 55 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Adam unlock in the free preview.

See Adam in part i book i