투사 삼손 과 밀튼의 정치사상

Abstract

This paper purports to read Samson Agonistes as a dramatic expression of Milton's political idea. As Christopher Hill point outs, after the English Revolution, the revolutionary group split over the question of profit sharing into various factions whose political agendas were different according to religious origin, social standing, and economical interest, etc. And “the Good Old Cause” was at the stake of being forgotten in the midst of specious reforms made by “the new royalized presbyterians." Since Milton regarded tyranny in religion and tyranny in politics as both sides of one coin, he kept a powerful critique of the default of the revolutionary group in the track of the old government. In this context, Samson Agonistes can be read at once Milton's response to the historical conjuncture of pre- and post- Restoration, and his quest for a new political idea. To begin with, we make a brief survey of the development of the English Revolution and the shaping of Milton's political idea. And then, this paper moves to the understanding of characterization of Dalila and Harapha, for they are thought to be functional characters from whose attitude and rhetoric we can identify Milton's reflections on post revolutionary milieu including the Restoration. Next, we try to get at the kernel of "the Good Old Cause" which Milton still entertained in the face of failure of the English Revolution, by analyzing the dialogue between Samson and Chorus, and between Manoa and Samson. Lastly, we probe into the meaning of a new political idea embodied in Samson's determination to go to the temple of Dagon. What we note here is that a political revolution is inseparable from a spiritual revolution for Milton.