john milton
cayla *****
December 2, 2013
John Milton essay
John Milton (1608 - 1674) was an English Poet with controversial opinions. He became blind in 1651, which in no way affected his writings and in his sonnet, "When I consider how my light is spent", and “How Soon Hath Time”, the poet refers to his blindness and the use of time. From the death of his infant son, to the death of his wife, down to Milton becoming blind, surprisingly, he had yet to let these obstacles stop him from being the amazing writer/Poet we was. “When I considered how my light is spent”, is a sonnet referring to his blindness and his secret obsession with time. Towards the end of this sonnet he questions his God as to why Milton’s “one talent” (line 3) was taken from him (his sight) and how it is possible to serve God with his blindness. Milton knows that he is talented, “though my Soul more bent to serve therewith my Maker, and present my true account, lest he returning chide;” (lines 4-6) his soul desires "bent” to use his skills in the service of his "Maker," God, but doesn’t know how to deal with it: “And that one talent which is death to hide” (line 3). It is ironic because here is a man who is incredibly talented, yet isn’t able to use his talents. Because its “Lodged with [me] useless, though my soul more bent”, where he almost bluntly states that he knows he has an amazing talent, which is his astounding ability to write amazing poems and such writings. “He does consider his blindness briefly in the poem, but taking Milton’s work so literally as to suppose that his blindness was all that he was talking about doesn’t give credit to Milton’s completely abstract thinking nor his depth of understanding holy literature.”( Georgii ). The start of the poem goes smooth as he tells the reader his view of being blind. Then midstream the poem he slips into the conversation about god as his maker and how Milton is supposed to serve God in his blind state. He refers to “Light”, which is also
December 2, 2013
John Milton essay
John Milton (1608 - 1674) was an English Poet with controversial opinions. He became blind in 1651, which in no way affected his writings and in his sonnet, "When I consider how my light is spent", and “How Soon Hath Time”, the poet refers to his blindness and the use of time. From the death of his infant son, to the death of his wife, down to Milton becoming blind, surprisingly, he had yet to let these obstacles stop him from being the amazing writer/Poet we was. “When I considered how my light is spent”, is a sonnet referring to his blindness and his secret obsession with time. Towards the end of this sonnet he questions his God as to why Milton’s “one talent” (line 3) was taken from him (his sight) and how it is possible to serve God with his blindness. Milton knows that he is talented, “though my Soul more bent to serve therewith my Maker, and present my true account, lest he returning chide;” (lines 4-6) his soul desires "bent” to use his skills in the service of his "Maker," God, but doesn’t know how to deal with it: “And that one talent which is death to hide” (line 3). It is ironic because here is a man who is incredibly talented, yet isn’t able to use his talents. Because its “Lodged with [me] useless, though my soul more bent”, where he almost bluntly states that he knows he has an amazing talent, which is his astounding ability to write amazing poems and such writings. “He does consider his blindness briefly in the poem, but taking Milton’s work so literally as to suppose that his blindness was all that he was talking about doesn’t give credit to Milton’s completely abstract thinking nor his depth of understanding holy literature.”( Georgii ). The start of the poem goes smooth as he tells the reader his view of being blind. Then midstream the poem he slips into the conversation about god as his maker and how Milton is supposed to serve God in his blind state. He refers to “Light”, which is also