The character in Samson Agonistes was once, "Heroic renowned/, Whom unarmed no strength of man/, Or fiercest wild beast could withstand" (125-127 Samson), is no longer that feared that man. Instead he is a prisoner of his enemies chained and blinded by them, deceived by his own wife. After a life of such heroic activity Samson begins to question why him. His thoughts swarm upon him like a deadly swarm of hornets armed, no sooner foun

In Lycidas, however the person suffering defeat is one that is mourning a friend. Just like in Samson Agonistes the speaker can't believe this has have to his friend. The speaker wants to know, "Where were ye nymphs when the remorseless deep/, Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas?" (50-51 Lycidas). We see that Milton likes to question why when dealing with defeat in his works.

Samson was able to deal with defeat with the help of friends and family members.

The work for which thou wast foretold

d alone, but rush upon him thronging, and present times past, what he once was, and what he is now. He is really struggling with his current life wanting to know why his breeding was ordered as a person separate to God. Samson lays all the blame on himself saying how impotent his mind was in a body so strong. God gave him the strength to show everyone but the gift was so slight he hung it in his hair. After debating with himself about his life he turns to his loss of sight. "O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!" (67 Samson). Samson see his lost of sight in the worse way being that he viewed it so highly. He believes that light is the prime work of god and since that light is so necessary to life he is living a life half dead. Again Samson begins to question, "why was the sight to such a tender ball as th' eye confined? If light was so precious why would it be exposed and so easy to be destroyed. Samson considers death a privilege because he would be buried and relieved of all his pains and wrongs. We see the same kind of questioning why in Milton's, Lycidas.

Manoa then tells his son that there is nothing else that can be done in the meanwhile in about Dagon and that he should just go home. Manoa has already "made way/ to some Philistian lords, with whom to treat/ about thy ransom: well they may by this/ have satisfied their utmost of revenge/ by pains and slaveries, worse than death inflicted/ on thee, who now no more canst do them harm."(481-486 Samson) Samson still feeling as though he has got what he deserves tell his father to just spare himself the trouble. Manoa then tells Samson to just repent, and God may perhaps relent and quit thee all his debt and return home and start over. The one thing Samson wants is a pardon from God, but he still feels like what is the purpose of his life. He once walked about admired of all and dreaded hostile ground, none daring to confront him. He doesn't want to go home to be pitied or sit around and do nothing. Samson rather drudge until the vermin or the pill-swill of servile food consumes him and brings about a much welcomed death. Manoa stills as though it will better for Samson to go home and lie bed ridden and hope one day of God giving back his gift of sight. Samson in complete denial still believes that there is no hope from him only the hope of death. Even though Samson has completely given up on himself Manoa tells him to stay strong while he tries to get him freed and to listen to what his friends have to say. Yet Samson only has one wish not to regain his sight but for a speedy death to close all his miseries. Even though Dalila, his wife, has betrayed him she comes to ease his mind.

In P

Some common words found in the essay are:
Samson Samson, Lost Adam, Dagon God, Samson Agonistes, Agonistes Heroic, Lycidas Milton, Samson Manoa, Colliers Samson, Visiting Samson, Samson Dagon, samson agonistes, person suffering, paradise lost, defeat help, manoa tells, samson begins question, samson lays, samson chorus, can't believe, lays blame, dealing defeat, samson lays blame, person suffering defeat, paradise lost adam,
Approximate Word count = 2160
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)