These two paintings show very different interpretations of the Samson and Delilah story. When Samson tell Delilah the secret of his strength he says " No razor has ever been used on my head because I have been a Nazirite set apart by God since birth. If my head were shaved my strength would leave me." Do you think each painting might represent a different stage in the hero quest for Samson, even if they tell the same story? What about Delilah? Is one of the paintings a more accurate representation of her role in the story? In the painting on the top, the scissors are to the bottom left corner, near the dog. In the other painting, Delilah holds them. What do the placement of scissors tell about the stories the different artist are trying to communicate?
I think they both portray the same stage of Samson’s hero quest. I just think they are by different points of views. In the first photo the scissors are all the way cross the room, and Delilah looks distraught. I think this interpretation is trying to show that Delilah did not want to have anything to do with cutting his hair, and greatly regret what she did. Explaining why the scissors are across the room. I think the second painting is an interpretation that is trying to suggest that Delilah was very intent with her decision on cutting his hair. I think the painting represents this because she has the scissors in her hands and she has a peaceful look on her face. I feel the more accurate presentation was probably the first. I think her people, the philistines, coaxed Delilah into cutting his hair. I don’t think she was thinking very much about the outcome of her actions. Once she saw the Philistines taking away I believe she regretted her action and flung the scissors across the room symbolizing how she wanted separate herself from the foul deed she committed.
ReplyDeleteEven though these paintings show two very different interpretations of the Samson and Delilah story, I think they both capture the same point of the heroes quest. This story is told two different ways. One in which Delilah is the one to cut Samson's hair, but the other by which the Philistines cut his hair. To me, the picture on the left represents the story of the Philistines cutting Samson's hair and the picture on the right represents the story of the Delilah cutting his hair. In both versions I believe that Delilah had a part of her that didn't want to hurt Samson the way that she did. The way that the scissors are down away from Samson and by the dog communicates to us that Delilah doesn't want to hurt Samson so she is trying to get the scissors away. I think this representation is trying to say that she regrets her decision. In the right picture, the scissors are in Delilah's hands. I believe that this is trying to prove that maybe she really was using Samson all along just like one version of the story tells us.
ReplyDeleteI would say that the in the first painting, Samson looks to be farther along in his hero's journey then in the second painting. It seems that in the first painting, Samson is close to the abyss, but in the second painting, I would say that he has just crossed over into the unknown world. In the first painting, the scissors are away from Samson. In the second picture, however, the scissors are in between Samson and Delilah. I think that this is because the artist who painted the first portrait thought that Delilah secretly loved Samson, and felt a little guilty about her actions. Delilah shows this by thrusting the scissors away from her as if they disgust her. Also, in the first painting Samson and Delilah are both tilting towards each other, and reaching for each other. This further reinforces the fact that the artist was more concerned about Samson and Delilah's love rather then Delilah's betrayal. I think that the second artist believed the opposite of the first. The scissors are between Samson and Delilah which makes it seem as if Delilah cares less about Samson, and more about her people overthrowing his. This tells me that the second artist was probably more concerned with Delilah's betrayal, then with her and Samson's false romance. In the second painting, Delilah seems almost happy or excited about cutting of Samson's hair and capturing him. In the first painting, Delilah appears distraught at the fact that Samson is being taken from her. I agree more with the opinion of the second artist. I think that Delilah didn't actually care about Samson at all, but only about the Philistines overpowering Samson.
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