"The Warning"

         The predominating theme in "The Warning" by Longfellow is the story of Samson from the book of Judges. However there are hidden meanings throughout the poem. By using this Biblical passage, Longfellow alludes to slavery prior to the civil war. When he describes Samson to be "In prison..." he reflects how the slaves were taken from their families to serve their masters. Longfellow tells how Samson was "forced to grind" refering to the hard work the slave-owners demanded of the slaves. Lastly, he compares the story of when Samson destroyed the Philistine temple with the rebellious actions of the slaves. He makes this comparison when he writes, "There is a poor, blind Samson in this land... who may... raise his hand, and shake the pillars of this commonweal, 'till the vast temple of our liberties a shapeless mass of wreck and rubbish lies."