John Milton's Poem When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

“When I Consider How My Light is Spent” (Milton Line 1) is a great poem that teaches a highly important lesson about God-given talent. A careful examination of the text helps us understand what John Milton was trying to get across to his audience. The symbolism that he portrays throughout the poem, tells the reader that he was having trouble with losing his vision; which happened in 1652. He was not able to fully use his talent of writing poems and he felt that God would scold him if he wasn’t able to maximize his talent. He begins to realize that his “Maker” (Milton Line 5) doesn’t demand that from him. “Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best” (Milton Line 11) says a lot about Milton’s epiphany. He comes to the conclusion that no matter …show more content…
He now has no light and he lives in a setting that is “dark” and wide” (Milton Line 2). He then refers to his talent “which is death to hide” (Milton Line 3) which refers to “The Parable of Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30) in which a lord gives three of his servants some money to do whatever they wanted with while he leaves for a trip. Two of those servants take that money and gain more for their master. The third servant takes that money and buries it thinking his lord would like that since he saved it. His master is happy with the first two but not the third one and he exiles him into darkness. This is why he says that it’s “death to hide” (Milton Line 3) a clear reference to the parable. It’s also a direct reference to his blindness because now his talent of writing is “lodged” with him “useless” (Milton Line 4). Milton then goes on with some more powerful imagery by comparing God with the lord in “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30). Milton wants to show God that he is using his “talents” to the best of his ability but also realizes that he can’t due to his blindness. It also refers to the parable because talents also meant money. He worries that God is going to get mad at him that’s why he refers to him “returning chide” (Milton Line 6). If God is anything like the lord in the parable, …show more content…
He cared a lot about his talent for writing and wasn’t sure what to think of being blind. Therefore, his way of thinking also suggests that he was a devoted member of the Christian faith. He goes on to realize that even though he’s sad and angry about not being able to use his talents to his best ability; he can find comfort and stability in knowing that he’s trying his best and that’s probably all God wants him to do. It’s a parable in a sense that he ends up teaching himself about his faith and that the higher power knows what’s best for him; and He only makes us go through what we can handle. “God gives the hardest battles to the strongest soldiers” (Fabolous, music artist) is a good quote that would definitely describe Milton at this point in his life. Even though, he’s going through a rough time that he can find a silver lining in his situation. Furthermore, the sonnet teaches a lot about bravery and courage in the way that Milton had to have needed a lot of the two qualities to realize this. He was a great writer and just wanted to be able to use his talent to the best of his ability. He was dealt a horrible hand when he lost his vision completely; he was just dealing with it in his own way. I applaud his will and his faith in the Heavens and would definitely want to devote a lot of time to getting to know more of his beliefs. Everything he taught in this sonnet makes a lot more