Discuss
Samson Agonistes as a Greek Drama
Samson Agonistes stands out as the most
perfect example of the classical drama in English. In it, Milton
has caught the spirit of the
Golden Age of Greek Literature
more nearly than any other English
writer. The so-called classical drama
of Milton's predecessors was
written in imitation of Seneca
and bears little resemblance to Attic tragedy, quite apart from
the general mediocrity of
the work. Since Milton, other English
poets have tried to write in the form and spirit
of the great Greek
Tragedians,, but
certainly they have not equaled Samson Agonistes. Goethe
said that he knew of hardly any work which
had been composed so entirely in the spirit of the ancients.
In structure, Milton
has scrupulously followed his model. He has preserved the rules
with regard to the unities of time and place.
Without any difficulty the action has been kept within twenty-four hours.
Indeed, in spite of the great length of
the speeches and the unhurried action the play seems to cover only a very short
time. The scene remains unchanged throughout
the action all takes place in an open space
before the prison at Gaza. Although no division has been made
into acts, Milton's playfalls
naturally into the regular Greek divisions. It opens with a
prologue, followed by the Parodus, or entry
of the chorus. Each act
is brought to its conclusion and the fifth act begun by Stasimon.
The announcement of the catastrophe is
immediately followed by the dirge sung by
the chorus. The final chorus concludes the play on a note of tragic
contemplation such as was used in Greek tragedy.
