# Adam — Two Treatises of Government character guide > Adam in Two Treatises of Government by John Locke. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Adam king David, monarch Adam, king David **First appearance:** 0001-two-treatises-of-government ## Snapshot The first man, drafted by Filmer as humanity's original absolute monarch—Locke dismantles the claim that Adam's mere creation made him king. ## Who they are Adam stands at the center of the entire debate: Filmer insists his fatherhood over all posterity is the fountainhead of every king's authority, while Locke presses the awkward question of what 'monarch in habit, not in act' could possibly mean before any children exist. The tension is sharp—a title supposedly inherited by every ruler on earth, yet resting on a begetting that hadn't yet happened at creation. Locke's relentless parsing of this figure sets the terms for the whole First Treatise, making Adam less a patriarch than a stress test for divine-right theory. ## Relationships ### [Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/eve) _family_ Adam and Eve are the first human couple, with Eve created from Adam's rib, forming the foundational familial unit. ### [Sir Robert Filmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/sir_robert_filmer) _rivalry_ Locke uses Adam as a central figure to refute Filmer's patriarchal theory of absolute monarchy, making them intellectual antagonists. ### [Noah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/noah) _family_ Adam is the ancestor of Noah through the genealogical line, representing the continuation of humanity after the Fall. ### [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/abraham) _family_ Abraham is a descendant of Adam, and their connection is used to discuss inheritance of dominion and covenant. ### [Jacob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/jacob) _family_ Adam is the distant ancestor of Jacob, with Jacob being a key patriarch in the line of descent from Adam. ### [Grotius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/grotius) _rivalry_ Locke references Adam to critique Grotius's theories on natural law and property, positioning them as opposing thinkers. ### [Cain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/cain) _family_ Adam is the father of Cain, and their relationship is marked by Cain's sin and subsequent exile. ### [Mr. Selden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/mr_selden) _rivalry_ Locke uses Adam to challenge Selden's views on natural law and the origins of political authority. ### [Saul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/saul) _family_ Adam is the ancestor of Saul, the first king of Israel, linking the patriarchal line to monarchy. ### [Abel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/abel) _family_ Abel is the son of Adam, and his murder by Cain is a key event in early human history discussed by Locke. ### [Aaron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/aaron) _family_ Aaron is a descendant of Adam through the priestly line, used to discuss religious authority and lineage. ### [Sir Robert Filmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/sir_robert_filmer) _rivalry_ Locke uses Adam as a central figure to refute Filmer's patriarchal theory of absolute monarchy, making them intellectual antagonists. ## In the story ### [Book I: Of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/book-i-of-government) Adam is central to Filmer's theory as the supposed original monarch; Locke challenges the basis of Adam's sovereignty. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/i) Filmer's system posits Adam as an absolute monarch, from whom all princes derive their power by divine right. ### [II: Of Paternal and Regal Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/ii-of-paternal-and-regal-power) Adam is the focal point of Filmer's theory, claimed to possess absolute royal authority, dominion over Eve, and fatherhood over all mankind. Locke challenges the lack of evidence for Adam's sovereignty. ### [Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Creation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iii-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-creation) Central figure in Filmer's argument; Locke examines whether Adam's creation gave him sovereignty. ### [Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by Donation, Gen. 1:28](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iv-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-donation-gen-1-28) Locke argues that Adam was not made monarch by the donation in Gen. 1:28; the grant was to all mankind. ### [Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by the Subjection of Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/v-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-the-subjection-of-eve) Adam is discussed as the supposed recipient of monarchical power from Genesis 3:16, but Locke argues the verse is a curse, not a grant. ### [Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty by Fatherhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vi-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-fatherhood) Central figure in Filmer's claim of sovereignty by fatherhood; Locke examines and refutes this title. ### [VII: Of Fatherhood and Property Considered Together as Fountains of Sovereignty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vii-of-fatherhood-and-property-considered-together-as-fountains-of-sovereignty) Adam is discussed as the original possessor of both fatherhood and property, whose death reveals the incompatibility of these two titles of sovereignty. ### [VIII: Of the Conveyance of Adam’s Sovereign Monarchical Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/viii-of-the-conveyance-of-adam-s-sovereign-monarchical-power) Adam is referenced as the supposed original monarch whose royal authority Filmer attempts to convey to future kings, though Locke finds the arguments inconsistent. ### [Of Monarchy, by Inheritance from Adam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/ix-of-monarchy-by-inheritance-from-adam) Locke examines Filmer's claim that Adam held absolute sovereignty by property and fatherhood, and argues that Adam's rights were not exclusive to him but shared with all his children. ### [X: Of the Heir to Adam’s Monarchical Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/x-of-the-heir-to-adam-s-monarchical-power) Central figure in Filmer's theory; Locke examines the implications of Adam's supposed heir having monarchical power over all mankind. ### [XI: Who Heir?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xi-who-heir) Locke argues that Filmer's claim of Adam's heir having divine right to rule is useless without a way to identify that heir. ### [Book II: Of Civil Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/book-ii-of-civil-government) Referenced in the context of Filmer's claim of Adam's sovereignty. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/i) Locke refutes the claim that Adam had private dominion or paternal jurisdiction over the world. ### [Of Property](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/v-of-property) Referenced as the recipient of God's grant of the world, which Filmer used to argue for absolute monarchy. ### [VI: Of Paternal Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vi-of-paternal-power) Mentioned as created perfect, with full strength and reason, unlike his descendants who are born weak. ### [XVIII: Of Tyranny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xviii-of-tyranny) Mentioned in the context of 'sons of Adam' to illustrate that great power does not justify oppression. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned in Filmer's context as the original source of paternal power. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/adam - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters