Discuss
SAMSON AGONISTES AS A CHRISTIAN PLAY.
In
the preface to Samson Agonistes, though Milton has clearly stated that his aim
is to confirm to the pattern of Greek tragedy, his mind seems to be given, not
merely to the concept of Greek tragedy but also to that of a Christian Tragedy.
Milton who is essentially a puritan poet
believes that God has blessed him with ‘that one talent’- the poetical genius
with which he has vowed ‘to serve my maker’. This rich
spiritual enlightenment that he acquires for himself colours the play with a certain
amount of Christian idealism. infact, the play is religious in from in which Milton’s
purpose is not just to make Samson as a conventional tragic figure, but on the
contrary, his purpose is to “justify the ways of God to men” and
Samson is made instrument in order to vindicate this.
