Criticism / The Light Is Still On

     John Milton’s sonnets are unlike those of Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Donne. His sonnets often denote communal or political affairs, as he reveals in Sonnet 19 (“On His Blindness”). “On His Blindness” is written in Petrarchan form, where its main motif is that of light.
     However, readers believe Milton’s theme is about his personal encounter with blindness; hence, the poem’s title. Yet a deeper understanding of Milton’s sonnet bestows a religious reflection in which his pious light still gleams even if he is blind.
     The opening lines display a speaker mourning about his loss of sight, which Milton also refers to in his epic poem “Paradise Lost” and “Sonnet 22,” but it provides us with a religious overtone that will be extended through the rest of the poem: “When I consider how my light is spent, / Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide” (1-2).
     Milton employs “light” as an extended metaphor for spiritual capacity when he alludes to the parable of the talents in the following line: “And that one talent which is death to hide” (3). Here, Milton is not only referring to “Matthew 25,” where the vile servant abandons his master’s talent, but also he is referring to his own aptitude as a writer.  He furthers his qualms in the next three lines.
     Milton’s skill as a bard is “[l]odged with [him]” and “useless”; moreover, his “soul [is] more bent / [t]o serve. . . [his] Maker” (4-5). Without his eyesight, Milton considers his talent as a poet can no longer serve God, and his soul is even more inclined to serve God. The speaker further fears the second coming of Christ, where he wants to “present” a “true account” before Christ returns (5-6).
     The poet then “fondly” or foolishly asks, “Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?” Milton desires to know if God will still admit him in Heaven even though his blindness denies him light to use his talents. The Volta or turn, which takes place in line nine, happens in line eight: “But Patience to prevent.”
     It should be noted that Milton personifies his inner self-with “Patience.” His inner self-or internal dialogue thwarts “that murmur[ing]” dupe from the previous line to further questioning God’s will (9).  Nevertheless, Milton’s patience tells him what God expects of him: “God doth not need / . . . man’s work or his own gifts; who best / Bear his mild yoke . . . serve him best” (9-11).
     Again, the Puritan/Christian metaphor is at play here. Just as Milton refers to the fable of talents and the fable of the bridegroom (lines 3 & 7), he is referring to the Biblical “yoke” mentioned in “Matthew 11,” which states that those who are most devoted to God’s will serve the Lord best.
     Moreover, God’s “state / Is kingly,” and those who have “Patience” will “stand and wait” no matter if one or both eyes cannot see: true obedience towards God is the only talent he genuinely requires; thus, a man’s corporeal light can burn out providing his heavenly light shines through until the end (12-14).

Works Cited

Milton, John. Complete Poems. Vol. IV. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001. www.bartleby.com/4/. [8-15-08].

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