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"On his Blindness " by John Milton

 "On his Blindness " by John Milton


 Introduction to the Poem

"On His Blindness" is a poem written by John Milton, a famous English poet. Milton wrote this poem after he became blind in his early forties. The poem is also called "Sonnet 19" and was written around 1652. In this poem, Milton talks about his feelings about losing his sight and what this means for his life and work.

Main Idea of the Poem:

The main idea of the poem is Milton's worry about his blindness. He is concerned because he cannot see anymore, and he wonders how he can serve God properly without his eyesight. Milton was a writer, and losing his vision made him fear that he could no longer do his important work.

Milton's Complaint and Worry

At the beginning of the poem, Milton expresses his sadness and frustration. He talks about his "light" being spent, which means his eyesight is gone. He mentions that his talent is now useless because he cannot see to write. Milton feels upset because he wants to use his God-given talent (his ability to write) to serve God, but his blindness seems to prevent this.

He worries that God will be angry with him for not using his talent, even though the blindness is not his fault. This shows Milton's deep desire to be useful and to fulfill his purpose in life.

                        Milton asks : Does God expect him to work even though he is blind?

                       Patience answers: God does not need human work or gifts.

God's True Servants

Patience explains that there are two kinds of servants who please God:

  1. Those who actively work for God - These are people who travel around the world doing God's work, always busy serving Him.
  2. Those who wait patiently - These are people who simply stand and wait, ready to serve God in whatever way He asks, even if that means doing nothing active.

Both types of servants are equally valuable to God.

Conclusion

"On His Blindness" is a poem about accepting difficult circumstances in life. Milton moves from worry and complaint to understanding and peace. He learns that God values our attitude and faith more than our achievements. The poem teaches us that everyone has value, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, and that patience and acceptance are important virtues. This message brings comfort to anyone facing challenges or limitations in their life.

 

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