History Literature / SamsonAndDelilah

The story of Samson, better known as "Samson and Delilah", can be found in the [[Literature/TheBible biblical]] ''Literature/BookOfJudges''. Samson was one of the "judges" of [[ProudWarriorRace Israel]] and ruled during Israel's subjugation by the Philistines.

This story has been used several times in fiction since then, inspiring paintings by Creator/RembrandtVanRijn and Creator/PeterPaulRubens, having Samson squared off against Franchise/{{Superman}} in the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Ages]] and even having his own title (see ''ComicBook/MightySamson'') highlighting him as a likely inspiration for and UrExample of the modern superhero. Samson has a surprising amount in common with early Superman (superstrength, likes to screw with people, takes on corrupt government/aristocracy/business).

His life's story has been the subject of one Creator/CecilBDeMille theatrical film, 1949's ''Samson and Delilah'' starring Creator/VictorMature and Creator/HedyLamarr in the title roles, which was remade twice on TV, the first in 1984 (with Mature doing a cameo as Samson's father) and another in 1996 (which featured Creator/DennisHopper, Creator/MichaelGambon and Creator/ElizabethHurley); Delilah tends to get more screen time in the films than she does in the original story. There's also an {{opera}}tic version ''Theatre/SamsonEtDalila'' by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (the source of the popular concert piece "Bacchanal"), and an {{oratorio}} by Music/GeorgeFredericHandel, based on the dramatic poem "Samson Agonistes" by Creator/JohnMilton.

** The [=DeMille=] film specifies that donkeys' skulls and jawbones were used by court jesters. One is present at Samson's arrest at Etam to mock his "defeat". Samson uses his donkey skull. Lots of "ass" jokes in these scenes as the Saran of Gaza realizes how this is going to make his empire look to the rest of the world.
---> '''Saran.''' [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Lord Athur!]] Military Governor of Dan! Prince of Philistia! Emir of Armies! [[EnragedByIdiocy Beaten with the jawbone of an]] '''[[EnragedByIdiocy ASS!]]'''... Are you a soldier, or a clown commanding fools?

----
!!Tropes specific to the 1949 film
* AdaptationalHeroism: Delilah is portrayed more sympathetically here, showing regret over betraying Samson and helping him bring down Dagon's temple.
* AdaptationalKarma: While her fate after betraying Samson is never mentioned in the ''Bible'', here Delilah is killed when Samson brings down the temple of Dagon
* BettyAndVeronica: Miriam, the sweet, gentle Hebrew girl vs the spoiled and selfish Delilah.
* BigBad: This version has the Saran of Gaza, who has conquered the people of Israel and sends [[TheVamp Delilah]] to seduce and destroy [[TheHero Samson]], who leads the rebellion against him.
* CrapsackWorld: The 1949 film depicts the Land of Dan as this, as the Philistines oppress the Jewish people with a military dictatorship that abolishes most of their culture and makes them serve their conquerors hand and foot.
* [[CrazyJealousGuy Crazy Jealous Girl:]] Delilah, whenever Miriam shows up
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Delilah is killed in the 1949 film version]].
%% * FauxAffablyEvil: The Saran of Gaza, played by George Saunders.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Twice in the film, Delilah says "If you crushed the life out of me, I'd kiss you with my dying breath." Guess how she dies.
* NamedByTheAdaptation: Samson's first wife is named Semadar.
* NeverMyFault: In the 1949 film, Delilah blames Samson for the death of her sister and father...ignoring the fact that she set off most of the trouble by being a ManipulativeBitch and trying to get Samson for herself.
* RelatedInTheAdaptation: Here Delilah is the sister of Samson's first wife.
* YoungFutureFamousPeople: Saul, the future king of Israel, shows up as Samson's KidSidekick. Odd considering he was from the tribe of Benjamin rather than Dan.

* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Delilah is killed in the Saint-Saëns opera and the 1949 film version]].

* SenseLossSadness: In Music/GeorgeFredericHandel's oratorio, Samson's aria "Total Eclipse" describes his feelings at being blind. As [[RealitySubtext Handel had lost his own sight]], performances were said to move the composer and the audience to tears.

* KillEmAll: Happens to both soldiers and civilians throughout the story, from robbing and killing 30 people over a riddle to burning entire fields of Philistine crops, causing mass starvation, from slaying an army of a thousand men sent to apprehend him to toppling a temple full of 3000 people.

* BroughtLowByAWoman: Samson is seduced by Delilah, which proves to be his downfall.

** Samson challenges his wedding guests with a bet on the riddle, "Out of the eater came something to eat / Out of the strong came something sweet." The guests aren't able to guess it, so they resort to cheating by pressuring his wife to extract the answer from him. Samson [[BerserkButton doesn't take this well at all]]. (The answer is that [[spoiler:Samson killed a lion and discovered that bees had made honey in its carcass.]])

* BrungLowByAWoman: Samson is seduced by Delilah, which proves to be his downfall.

%%* HoneyTrap: Did we mention Delilah was a Philistine?

His life's story has been the subject of one Creator/CecilBDeMille theatrical film, 1949's ''Samson and Delilah'' starring Creator/VictorMature and Creator/HedyLamarr in the title roles, which was remade twice on TV, the first in 1984 (with Mature doing a cameo as Samson's father) and another in 1996 (which featured Creator/DennisHopper, Creator/MichaelGambon and Creator/ElizabethHurley); Delilah tends to get more screen time in the films than she does in the original story. There's also an {{opera}}tic version by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (the source of the popular concert piece "Bacchanal"), and an {{oratorio}} by Music/GeorgeFredericHandel, based on the dramatic poem "Samson Agonistes" by Creator/JohnMilton.

* BitterSweetEnding: Samson himself died, but at least his HeroicSacrifice freed his people by breaking the Philistines.

* TheFamine: What no doubt happened as a result of Samson burning Philistine crops.

His life's story has been the subject of one Creator/CecilBDeMille theatrical film, 1949's ''Samson and Delilah'' starring Creator/VictorMature and Creator/HedyLamarr in the title roles, which was remade twice on TV, the first in 1984 (with Mature doing a cameo as Samson's father) and another in 1996 (which featured Creator/DennisHopper, Creator/MichaelGambon and Creator/ElizabethHurley); Delilah tends to get more screen time in the films than she does in the original story. There's also an {{opera}}tic version by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (the source of the popular concert piece "Bacchanal"), and an {{oratorio}} by Music/GeorgeFredericHandel.

* ImprobableWeaponUser: Samson once killed a bunch of people with [[OnceKilledAManWithANoodleImplement a donkey's jawbone]].

[[quoteright:347:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/samson-and-delilah-by-peter-paul-rubens_9018.jpg]]

The story of Samson, better known as "Samson And Delilah", can be found in the [[Literature/TheBible biblical]] ''Literature/BookOfJudges''. Samson was one of the "judges" of [[ProudWarriorRace Israel]] and ruled during Israel's subjugation by the Philistines.

* AffablyEvil: The Saran of Gaza, played by George Saunders.

* BigBad: The 1949 version has the Saran of Gaza, who has conquered the people of Israel and sends [[TheVamp Delilah]] to seduce and destroy [[TheHero Samson]], who leads the rebellion against him.

* CrapsackWorld: The 1949 film depicts the Land of Dan as this, as the Philistines oppress the Jewish people with a military dictatorship that abolishes most of their culture and makes them serve their conquerors hand and foot.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Twice in the 1949 film, Delilah says "If you crushed the life out of me, I'd kiss you with my dying breath." Guess how she dies.

* KarmaHoudini: Delilah sells Samson to the Phillistines and gets silver pieces. Averted in [[spoiler:the 1949 film version, where she is killed when Samson brings down the temple on the Philistines.]]

* NeverMyFault: In the 1949 film, Delilah blames Samson for the death of her sister and father...ignoring the fact that she set off most of the trouble by being a ManipulativeBitch.

It should be noted that because of the aforementioned character traits of super strength, trickery, and skirt chasing, as well as the plot point of being crippled and betrayed by a woman he loved, many mythologists believe that Samson was actually a Christianized version of the Greek hero Heracles (Roman version: Hercules).