『투사 삼손』에 나오는 두 아버지: 마노아와 하나님

Abstract

Milton's Samson Agonistes deals with Samson's inner trans- formation through suffering and tragic experience of life. This poetical drama focuses the paradoxical work of God's providence which changes Samson's misfortune into his victory. Samson's father Manoa makes an important role in educating his son Samson. He concerns his son's physical state in the misery. Though he is not the protagonist, he ties the action together through beginning, middle, and ending. He is the complex character who hopes and despairs, loves and hates, chides and comforts. As a father who has a dear son he tries to deliver his son's body form the prison. However, his endeavors to ransom his son are futile because his eyes are fixed on the external states of his son and he doesn't know what really troubles his son now. Moreover, he concerns the fame and honor of his son and his house more than anything else. So his intent to help his son brings the opposite result to Samson, that is to give him another temptation to lead him into spiritual despair. Manoa is proved to be a false redeemer who has limited understanding, being spiritually blind. Only God really cares and helps Samson and makes him his true son and champion. It is God's providence that brings Samson's inner regeneration out of Manoa's useless endeavors. After meeting with his father he progresses from the depressed man to the more spirited man confessing his own sins. As Anthony Low explains, the most crucial thing Manoa does in the play is to remind Samson of the true nature of his crime. Milton contrasts the wisdom of God and the human effort of Samson's father. But what is important is that both of them are used to educate the Nazarite hero. What interests us is that his son's death makes Manoa's view of life change. Manoa learns the meaning of death form his son. He is able to understand the spiritual meaning of life and death through the example of his son. Therefore, when considering the role of God and Manoa as father of Samson, we should avoid the dichotomous approach of ‘God's care and Manoa's useless efforts’. Rather we should view it from the viewpoint of the paradoxical way of providence bringing forth good out of evil because Manoa's useless efforts are worked upon resulting good education of his son eventually with the aid of God's mysterious providence.