How we cite our quotes: (Line number)
Quote #1
SAMSON: O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold twice by an angel, who at last in sight of both my parents all in flames ascended...? (23-25)
First big hint that Samson isn't just your ordinary kid. If we were Samson's parents, we might start considering hiring an exorcist.
Quote #2
SAMSON: Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd as of a person separate to God, design'd for great exploits; if I must dye Betray'd, Captiv'd, and both my eyes out...?
By "separate" Samson just means "special," and it's not a bad question. Being blinded and imprisoned certainly does seem like a strange fate for God's number one guy.
Quote #3
SAMSON: I sought to wed the daughter of an infidel: [my parents] knew not that what I motion'd was of God (220-223)
Samson's special destiny with God can be tricky if he's the only one who knows it's going on. We're not exactly saying that Samson reminds us of the guy standing on the corner with the tinfoil hat and the placard, but it's pretty close.
Quote #4
CHORUS: [God] made our laws to bind us, not himself, and hath full right to exempt whom so it pleases him by choice (309-311).
Maybe we should just give up this whole free will/ divine fate thing, right? God doesn't need to explain himself to us. In fact, God seems to be the only one who's outside of fate.
Quote #5
MANOA: Reject not then what offer'd means, who knows but God hath set before us, to return thee home to thy countrey (516-517)
God works in mysterious ways—and they're extra mysterious to Manoa, who seems to literally have no idea how these things work. It's obvious to everyone except him that Samson's never going home.
Quote #6
SAMSON: Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, full of divine instinct (525-526)
This idea of "divine instinct" suggests that Samson isn't just special, but that he and God are on the same wavelength. Sort of like Voldemort and Harry Potter.
Quote #7
CHORUS: God of our Fathers, what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various, or might I say contrarious, temperest thy providence through his short course, not evenly (668-670)
Sometimes, God just doesn't seem to have a plan at all. Key word, "seem": of course he has a plan. He's God. He is the plan.
Quote #8
HARAPHA: Presume not on thy God, what e're he be, thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off quite from his people (1156-1158)
We have to (grudgingly) agree with Harapha that God's master plan for Samson is rather murky.
Quote #9
SAMSON: I was no private [person] but a person rais'd with strength sufficient and command from Heaven to free my countrey (1211-1213).
Can you be a private person if you believe God has commanded you to save your people? Probably not.
Quote #10
CHORUS: O dearly bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou [Samson] hast fulfill'd the work for which thou wast foretold to Israel (1660-1663)
The Chorus seems pretty sure that Samson's death demonstrates he was following God's plan all along. Do we, though? Is any part of this Samson's plan?