This famous sonnet from the collection Sonnets (1650-60) is very personal, as it describes one of the greatest tragedies of Milton's life, his loss of sight. His sight began to fail around 1644,and by the year 1655, at the age of only
47, he was completely blind.
'On His Blindness'
When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days1 in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent2 which is death to hide,
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
5To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide3,
'Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?'
I fondly ask; but Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, 'God doth not need
10 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.'
1. Ere ... days: i 35 anni erano considerati la metà della vita, secondo la tradizionale durata della vita di 70 anni presentata nella Bibbia.
2. talent: il talento è una moneta, ma qui il riferimento è alla parabola dei talenti (Matteo, 25, 14-30), in cui il servo che seppellisce il talento che il padrone gli ha dato è condannato perché non l'ha fatto fruttare. Milton intende per talento la sua dote di scrittore, che riteneva fosse un dono di Dio.
3. lest ... chide: nella parabola dei talenti il padrone ritorna e chiede ai servitori che uso hanno fatto del suo denaro.
Understanding the text
1. Answer the following questions.
1.
What is the poet thinking about at the beginning of the sonnet?
2.
Why is he frustrated?
3.
What is he afraid of?
4.
What does the poet ask?
5.
Who answers his question?
6.
What is the given answer?
7.
Who serves God?
2. There is one line in the sonnet which marks the logical division of it into two parts.
1.
Identify the line.
2.
What different meanings can we find in each part?
3.
What different attitude to blindness do they express?
Analysis and interpretation
3. Light and darkness are contrasted in the initial lines of the sonnet. What are the images and what do they convey?
4. 'Talent' is a specific word connected with trade. What other nouns echo the language of commerce? Why are there such terms? Apart from being a unit of currency at the time of Jesus, what does talent symbolize?
5. Describe the layout of the poem. Identify the rhyme scheme.
6. Find examples of these poetic devices.
1.
alliteration
2.
enjambment
3.
metaphor
4.
personification
7. Examine the powerful metaphor of the 'yoke': what is it and what connotations can we ascribe to it? How does the word 'yoke' symbolize the complex relationship between God and man?
8. How would you define the language used? Choose from the following.
 colloquial
 elevated
 simple
 confidential
 refined