The story of The Garden of Eden is full of symbolism. If deciphered by using what is said in other parts of the bible, it seems to reveal the same truths that many of the other stories tell us. From what I understand it says the following:
There are many blessing that come from living in God’s word(way of life). We give up these blessings because we are deceived by the ways of the world. Their ways look more promising at first, but eventually they lead to destruction. I think when Adam and Eve decided to follow the wrong path, they discovered what God meant when He said they would die. But according to the story, God is willing to forgive if we come back to Him with a humble heart and confess our sins. He renews us, but we must separate ourselves from sin and begin our lives again in His word. God’s word must followed, protected and taught to our children to insure that future generations know the true way.