Temptation and Fall

Michelangelo's Temptation and Fall from the Sistine Chapel Ceiling.

The story of Adam and Eve represents a symbolic transition of humanity from pure innocence to consequential truth. From their faces we can see a drastic change from ignorance, curiosity, and humility to utter shame, guilt, and vice. Once certain knowledge is acquired, a person is never the same, hence being banished from their original identity or sanctuary. Also notable is the depiction of the devil who takes on a humanistic-serpentine appearance at the center of the painting (perhaps representing a crossroad of choices).