He is lamenting how his sight is used up in this dark and wide world before he reaches half of his lifespan. The parable of the talents loomed large in Puritan minds, and particularly in Milton’s. The servant who simply returned what he had been given was deprived of everything and cast into other darkness. The sight is not employed and also not put to use to work out one’s salvation for profit. Though my soul more bent to serve there with God, and show my true account, lest scold me when he returns. “Does God expect me to still work when he deprives me of my eyesight, it is like God asks someone to work while it is not daytime.” Jesus remarks on the necessity to work while it is day since the night comes when no man may work.
This poem starts with the speaker, Milton, reflecting upon his blindnesss and how God expects him to make full use of his ability as a writer, if he cannot even see the paper on which he writes. The talent of the “poet is useless now that he is losing his sight,” even though he wishes to serve God with his writing now more than ever. After stating the fact that he is blind now, he wonders if God wants him to do smaller tasks since he can no longer see light or use his talent.
When expressing this, the speaker expresses it in a tone of depression and frustration.
I foolishly ask, but Patience(Milton’s own patience answers his question as foolish) answers his question as foolish: that God does not need man to do work
for Him and those obedient to Him bear his mild yoke.
Thousands of angels, one busy himself in serving God. One stands still and serves God.
Patience continues to tell Milton that God is being continuously served by thousands of people and the natural world.
Milton understand that waiting can be its own kind of service. This poem is a sort of argument going on in Milton’s mind. Milton places huge emphasis on his relationship with God. He thinks that God will punish him for his blindness. The word “light”refers to his blindness and also his inner light. Many references are made to monetary exchange within his thoughts on his blindness and duty to God.
Along with the words that have monetary diction, are his Biblical references. When “talent” is used, it can refer to the story of a master giving three servants coins to hold for him. The master rewards the two that spent them wisely and cast into darkness the servant that has buried it. If Milton buries his talent to use at a later date, it might become hidden forever, and no good will come of it. Then he will be cast into God’s darkness.
Milton has used his extensive knowledge of descripture 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.
There are four main themes in this sonnet. One is limitation. Milton believes that his blindness will ruin his chances for using his talents as he once could have done. Without his sight, it becomes even more difficult to create poetry, or even write it down for others to read.
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