Milton’s
perspective on life is deeply religious and shaped by his powerful belief in
God. This is demonstrated by his intertextual reference to the Bible’s parable
of the talent in Matthew 25 (qtd. in Miller 22). In the 17 th
century religious poetry was very common and Christian belief played a crucial
role in human lives. Milton clearly emphasizes his conception of serving God in
line 5: “To serve therewith my Maker” and expects God’s critical judgment on
that in line 7: “Doth God exact day-labour”. Thereupon the voice of “Patience”
is interacting with the first speaker. These two voices are having a dialogue
which makes the poem dramatic.
John
Milton criticizes our modern achievement-oriented society in his sonnet “On his
blindness” because nowadays performance is a precondition for high regard and
appreciation of somebody. However, his poem can serve as a statement in favor
of a person’s worthiness independent of one’s performance and workload.
The expression achievement-oriented society means that
the distributions of goods like economic resources but also “prestige” and
“power” are dependent on the attributed individual’s performance. This
functionality is the so called “achievement principle” (Arzberger 24). In other
words: Reputation is due to measurable accomplishments. Who does not achieve
enough, does not gain any esteem. In order to examine my thesis I am going to
analyze both the sonnet’s poetic and rhetorical form. First of all I am going
to point out the gist of the poem briefly.
“On
His Blindness” is a
Petrarchan sonnet, of iambic pentameter and yet again simple diction, full and
half-rhyme, enjambment and contraction. Milton has used his extensive knowledge
of scripture to create a deeply personal poem, and gently guide himself and the
reader or listener from an intense loss through to understanding and gain.
The
main themes of this poem are Milton's exploration of his feeling, fears and
doubts regarding his failed sight, his rationalization of this fear by seeking
solutions in his faith.
The
tone of the poem is one of contrasting darkness and light, `my light is spent'
and spending half of his life `in this dark world and wide', using alliteration
and contrast to give understanding to his affliction, but Milton is also
indicating a biblical reference to the `Talent'; a unit of currency in those
times, and used several by Jesus as a symbolic level of the meaning of
forgiveness. The ending part of this line `which is death to hide', Milton is
referring to the Resurrection and that if one hides one's Talent or the gift of
the forgiveness and / or compassion.
ON
HIS BLINDNESS
When
I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more
bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light
denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."
Notes
1....light
is spent: This clause presents a double meaning: (a) how I spend my days,
(b) how it is that my sight is used up.
2....Ere
half my days: Before half my life is over. Milton was completely blind by
1652, the year he turned 44.
3....useless:
Unused.
4....therewith:
By that means, by that talent; with it
5....account:
Record of accomplishment; worth
6....exact:
Demand, require
7....fondly:
Foolishly, unwisely
8....Patience:
Milton personifies patience, capitalizing it and having it speak.
9..God
. . . gifts: God is sufficient unto Himself. He requires nothing outside of
Himself to exist and be happy.
10. yoke:
Burden, workload.
11. post:
Travel.
POEM SUMMARY
Line 1
The poet considers how his “light” is used up or wasted or put forth in the
world; in a poem on blindness, “light” can most easily be interpreted as his
ability to see. But for this deeply religious poet it may also mean an inner
light or spiritual capacity.
Line 2
The poet assumes that his life is not yet half over. The phrase “in this dark
world and wide” is typical of one of the ways Milton handles adjectives,
putting one in front of the noun and one behind it.
Line 3
This line may refer to the Biblical parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
which speaks of a bad servant who neglects his master’s talent (a talent was a kind
of coin) instead of using it; he is “cast into outer darkness.” It can also
mean a literal talent, in other words Milton’s talent as a writer.
Lines 4-6
“Lodged with me useless” means that his talent as a poet is useless now that he
is losing his sight. “Though my soul more bent/ to serve therewith my Maker”
can be roughly paraphrased, “although my soul is even more inclined to serve
God with that talent.” This is especially frustrating to want to serve God with
his writing but to feel his talent will be wasted as he becomes blind. He
wishes ultimately to “present his true account,” or give a good account of
himself and his service to God.
Line 5
Line 5 expresses the speaker’s desire to serve God through his poetry, to use
his talents for the glory of God.
Line 6
This line may refer to the second coming of Christ or to the judgement. “Lest
he returning chide” can be paraphrased “so that he won’t chide or rebuke me
when he returns.”
Lines 7-8
Milton grumblingly asks here if God just wants day-work, or smaller, lesser
tasks, since Milton’s blindness denies him his “light” and thus the use of his
talents. Note that Milton allows his grumbling tone to show first, and then
qualifies his own attitude as foolish.
Line 8
Patience is not capitalized, but has often been thought of as a personification
here rather than as another aspect of Milton’s inner self. Either way, in the
inner dialogue, patience speaks in the remaining six lines, quite effectively
having the last word.
Line 9
Patience speaks, to prevent that “murmur,” Milton’s questioning of God’s will
in line 7.
Lines 10-14
Patience’s reply explains one aspect of the nature of God and affirms a kind of
service to God that is different from the service advocated in the parable of
the talents. First of all God does not need man’s work or God-given talents.
The nature of service to God is explained next.
Lines 10-11
“Who best / bear his mild yoke” means the people who are most obedient to God’s
will (which is mild, not difficult). These people are the ones who serve God
best. The image of the yoke is also Biblical; a yoke was a kind of harness put
on oxen but in Matthew 11:29-30 it is an image for God’s will.
Lines 11-12
“His state is kingly” explains God’s greatness; patience goes on to elaborate
in the next lines on that greatness.
Lines 12-13
At God’s bidding or will, thousands of people and by implication angelic
messengers “speed and post” all over the world all the time. This line implies
a sort of constant worldwide motion of service to God’s commands; that allows
the last line to imply by contrast a great restfulness and peace. There is more
than one way to serve God, and patience is telling the poet that even his
waiting or the apparent inaction caused by his blindness can be a kind of service
if it meets the criterion of lines 10-11, to bear the yoke well.
Good notes
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