Free Will in John Miltons Samson Agonistes Essay -- Samson Agonistes

Free Will in John Miltons bull Agonistes John Miltons Samson Agonistes is based on the story of Samson, an Israelite hero in the Old Testament who falls from grace. In this work Milton shapes his version around the issue of accountability, whether Samson or God is responsible for his actions. Milton displays Samsons accountability by contrasting his God- granted strength with his self-effected weakness. When Samson was born, God gave him extraordinary physical strength. The very occurrence that God puts prohibitions on Samson implies that there is an element of free choice. His parents told him that in order to preserve his strength he should not cut his long Nazirite cop or drink alcohol. Therefore Samson has control over his strength and can be held accountable for his deeds. Initially, Samson did not appreciate the gift given to him. Before losing the privilege of his power he was unaware of its significance. He says that God put the strength in his hair in order to show him ho w modest the gift is. Proudly secure, (55) he worried about things that now least afflict him. He regarded his strength as a matter of course because he had never experienced weakness and did not recognize that he was liable to fall.The first time he assumes responsibility for a major decision is when he chooses his wife. He is free to choose the wife he pleases. Nevertheless, he is unaware of the responsibility with which he is confronted. He does not take into account the fatal consequences that could termination from his decision. His marriage to Dalila, a Philistine woman, harms not only himself but also the other Israelites. Samsons decision leads him to blindness and captivity and his people to drive under the rule of the Philisti... ...nistes. When this work was published in 1671, the author did not regard himself as a Calvinist, as he had during most of his life. Instead, he held an Arminian belief, which criticized the Calvinistic view of predestination Arminianism allo wed human decision a role in achieving personal salvation. The belief in predestination makes life seem impossible for every effort would be in vain. Moreover, predestination could serve as an excuse for immoral behavior because we could refuse to bear responsibility for our shortcomings. It is a valuable gift that we are all capable of taking responsibility for ourselves and for the people close to us. We can only hope that everyone will be brave liberal to make good use of this gift.Works CitedMilton, John. Samson Agonistes. In John Milton Complete Poems and Major Prose. Ed. Merritt Y. Hughes. New York Macmillan, 1957.