Second Year English Notes Sindh Board SAMSON AGONISTS

SAMSON AGONISTS

(John Milton)

John Milton is regarded as one of the most famous poets of English Literature. His masterpiece Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes earned him fame and honor. His individual style has a touch of sublimity and majesty which is quite appropriate to his noble and powerful ideas.

Samson Agonistes is an adaptation of the Greek drama form in blank verse, which recounts the tragedy of Samson in his blindness beset by enemies. This hero performed the decisive role in crushing the Philistines who were the deadly enemies of his race. Samson too got killed in that disaster but his heroic act saved his tribesman from the deadly enemy. By virtue of his glorious deed, his named earned eternity. It is rightly said:
“Those who die for their nation live forever.”

Once the Philistines arranged a grand feast in a temple. The huge gathering included gentry from all parts of the country. A prisoner, Samson, was brought to display his immense strength and stamina through different stunts. Though he was blind but performed very well and the leaders enjoyed it. After performing for some time, he feels exhausted and wished to be taken between the pillars for rest. He placed his arms on the pillars and stood with his head inclined as if he was lost in some profound thoughts or was busy in prayer. The foundation of the great temple rested onto these two pillars. Ultimately, he addressed the gathering and informed them that his final performance would be according to his own will and it would leave them amazed and fascinated.
After the speech, Samson started to exert all his force and energy onto these massy pillars. The way he was jerking the pillars, it seemed as if the forces of nature had also come to his assistance and were enclosed in his body. Eventually, he was able to remove the pillars from their place and the whole roof collapsed with a loud rumble and explosion. All the people assemble there were buried alive under the pillars. Samson was unable to save himself from the claws of death and was also buried with them but remained alive among the hearts of his people. In this way, he set an example of great sacrifice by giving up his life but eliminating his rivals.

Q1-   What qualities of Samson did the poet describe in his poem Samson Agonists?

Ans.  According to John Milton Samson was a determined hero. He was not afraid of his enemies and he also did those feasts of Strength which he was asked to do. As he was blind but he could do all those tasks which could be done without eyes like breaking, pulling, drawing and to heave something. All these he could do with his stupendous force and might.

Q2- Why Samson’s guide took him between the two massy pillars?

Ans.  Samson guide took him between the two massive pillars because Samson was a strong and extraordinary hero. He was a mighty person and was taken captive by his enemies. Often his enemies enjoyed the tricks and the day all the philistines people were assembled to celebrate their religious ceremony so they wanted Samson to make them happy by performing strange tricks by using his immense strength. Samson was also brought in the same building where the people were assembled and which was supported only by two massy pillars.

Q3.        How does Samson take revenge on his enemies?

Ans.     John Milton’s ‘Samson Agonists’ presents the Old Testament story of Samson in the form of a Greek tragedy. Samson, who had been taken captive and later blinded, was brought to display the incredible feat of his power in the annual religious festival of the Philistines. He was asked to do things that required strength, not sight. The huge gathering included all and sundry: the nobility, the army commanders, the religious leaders, the counselors, and all the commoners from every part of the city. Samson’s performance rendered everyone astonished as well as delighted. After the strenuous feat, Samson requested his guide to let him rest for a while with his both hands on the two massive pillars that provided the main support to the roof. Samson told the Lords that he wanted to show his final performance which would be still greater and would leave them all dazzled. Samson started to exert all his force and energy onto those two pillars. He shook them as if the force of flood and storm, confined in his body, had come to his assistance. Finally, he pulled down the pillars that supported the temple, crushing himself along with his deadly enemy.

“Those who die for others live forever”

Q4-   How Samson addressed the people?

Ans.  When Samson was brought before the crowd in chains he addressed the gathering. He said to them that he obeyed them till then but now he was going to perform a feast of strength on his own accord. With saying this he strained his nerves and tugged the massive pillars, which supported the whole roof. He shook the whole building with the convulsion to and fro till the whole building came down and all the people sitting there, were killed in whom Samson was also in mixed.