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Movie Samson and Delilah directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Milton's Samson Agonistes have the same soizrce of the Samson's story in the Bible. However, there are a lot of differences between the two. The story of Samson, the strongest of men, felled by the temptress Delilah is brought to the screen in majesty and splendor. The Samson of the Movie possesses several traditional heroic traits such as strength, vengefulness, and cleverness. Nevertheless, Samson shows lots of weaknesses and makes many mistakes again and again. He is not a stable character. Especially, DeMille focuses the dramatic love affairs between Samson and Delilah.
On the other hand, Milton's Samson Agonistes dramatizes the recovery of self and the salvation of man by examining Samsons's suffering and inner transformation.
The movement of the drama is focused on Samson's transformation fi-om a hubristic Hebrew Hercules to a humble and obedient servant of God. Milton presents not Samson's outward appearance but his interior progress to us. He excludes all the physical actions. They are only reported rather than played out before the audience.
Most of all, Milton parodies the old testament emphasis on Samson's strength and heroic exploits in the nonbiblical figure of Harapha who taunts Samson. He rejects the quasichivalric hero of brute physical endowments in the medieval age. He creates a new Christian hero who is well possessed with spiritual values. His emphasis is on the hero's inner virtue and growth.