ON HIS BLINDNESS – JOHN MILTON (Text and Summary)

Textual poem for (VSKUB) B. Com. I semester students

ON HIS BLINDNESS – JOHN MILTON

John Milton, the poet who wrote the greatest epic in English, was born on 9 December 1608 in London, educated at St. Paul’s School and Christ’s college, Cambridge. Milton took his B.A. degree in 1629 and M.A. in 1632. He was an exceptional scholar, at ease in English, Hebrew, Latin and Italian. In his youth, His remarkable looks and refined manner led to his being called ‘the lady of Christ’s’. He got involved in the controversies of the time and wrote a number of pamphlets. He defended the execution of Charles I and was appointed Latin Secretary to Oliver Cromwell, a post which he held till the Restoration. After the restoration of monarchy in 1660, Milton retired from politics and devoted himself entirely to poetry. He died on 10 November 1674.

The following are his famous poems: Ode on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity, Comus, Lycidas, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes.

Poem:

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,

Lodged 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:

The Poem "On His Blindness" is packed with biblical allusions. In this short poem or just fourteen lines Sonnet there are not less than five references to scriptural passages. Milton’s familiarity with the Bible caused it to be the main source of inspiration for many of his poems.

talent: Poetic genius.

(There is a reference to the parable given in St.Matthew’s gospel Ch.XXV, verses 14-30)

(lines 3 to 6) The servant of the parable did not make use of the talent (money) given to him by his master and was on that account, scolded by the master. Milton is afraid that he too may be taken to task by his divine Master for not making full use of his inborn or God-given talent for poetry. Instead of devoting his full attention to poetry he was engaged in writing prose pamphlets on controversial subjects.

day labour: reference to the parable of labourers in St.Matthew’s gospel Ch. XX verses 1-15

fondly: foolishly

prevent: anticipate

mild yoke: ‘yoke’ literally means, piece of wood palced across the necks of oxen pulling a cart or plough. Here it means ‘burden of difficulty’ in life. Again there is a reference to St. Matthew, Ch. XI verses 29-30. ‘Learn from me; I am gentle and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’.

thousands: old Testament, Prophecy of Daniel Ch. VII verses 9-11. While giving an account of the vision he had, the prophet speaks of the greatness of God the supreme judge: ‘A thousand thousand they were that waited on his bidding, and for every one of these, a thousand others were standing there before him’.

Post: travel with speed.

Stand and wait: St. Luke Ch. I verses 19. ‘I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto him’. 

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Summary:

By forty-five Milton was completely blind while yet in the service of Cromwell. As he had not fulfilled his ambition in life, to write a great poem which posterity would not willingly let die, he felt the loss of his eyesight very much and gave expression to his grief on several occasions. ‘On His Blindness’ is the first expression of this intensely felt loss.

Becoming blind at the age of forty-five Milton feels unhappy about the way he has spent that best part of his life. He is especially sorry for having failed to make proper use of his inborn poetic talent. He thinks his conduct is similar to that of the servant who preserved (unused) the money given to him by his master. The servant was scolded by the master for his laziness. Milton is afraid that he too may be taken to task for his failure to serve God by making use of his talent. Patience reminds him that God is not in need of man’s service. Those who endure their small difficulties, without making complaints, are the people who serve God best. God is like a king who has many servants. Some of the servants will be moving about to carry out the king’s orders; but some others will be standing by his side ready to obey him at any moment. Those who stand and wait for orders are also serving the king.

‘On His Blindness’ is the most famous of Milton’s sonnets. This is the first expression of the poet’s sorrow over the loss of his eyesight. It was written when he became completely blind at the age of forty-five.

Becoming blind at an early age, Milton is very unhappy about the fact that he has wasted the best part of his life without producing any creative work of importance. He feels especially sorry for having failed to make proper use of his poetic genius. He thinks his guilt is similar to that of the servant who kept unused the money to him by the master. The master scolded the servant for neglecting to do his duty. The poet is afraid that he too may be taken to task by God for his dereliction of duty. In a bitter mood Milton is inclined to think of God as a hard task master.

Soon he overcomes this mood of bitterness and is able to think of God in a more sober way.   God is not in need of man’s services. He is like a king who has many servants at his disposal. Some of the will be moving about to carry out he king’s orders; but some others will be standing by his side, always ready to obey him. Those who stand and wait for orders are also serving the king.

The poem begins in a mood of bitterness, but it ends in a mood of reconciliation and consolation. What really lends beauty to the poem is the frequent reference to some of the beautiful biblical passages. There are not less than five biblical allusions in this small poem of fourteen lines: but the most appropriate one is the reference to the parable of the talent.

Thus, in conclusion, it may be said that the poem reveals the moral earnestness of the poet and his familiarity with Bible.

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