John milton's soonet 'On His Blindnes' presents his religious attitude.It contains the noble idea of firm faith in God. John Milton became blind at the age of fourty-four.Hence,he complains to God against the injustice done to him.Soon he realizes his mistake and the superamacy of God.He feels that God does not want any return for His gifts.The only service to God is to bear patiently all the misfortunes.Milton realizes that he should not complain against God because the way of God are just.
The central idea of "On His Blindness" by John Milton is acceptance and faith in God's plan despite experiencing a loss or limitation. The speaker grapples with his blindness as a hindrance to serving God but ultimately finds peace in surrendering to God's will and realizing that service comes in many forms. Milton explores themes of patience, humility, and trust in divine providence throughout the poem.
John Milton is complaining to God against injustice done to him. He was very sad as he became blind. He is sorry as he will not be able to serve God by writing poems. After thinking about the supremacy of God he says that He is the king of world. He does not need any man's work. Thousand of angles are at His command. They are ready to carry out his order. The people who are satisfied with His desire and do not complain, are His true worshipers.
The Substance and Critical Appreciation:
Milton regrets that he has lost his eye-sight even before reaching the middle age. He is afraid that because of his blindness he cannot serve God by using his poetic talent, though he is eager to make the right and proper use of it. He fears that God may punish him for failing to serve Him by using his God-given gift of writing poetry. When such fears trouble him, for a moment his soul is disturbed by questioning the justice of God. But at once the religious conscience quiets his soul. He realizes that God doesn't care for the service of man; nor does He care if His gifts are used or not. He is the King of kings and He had thousands of angels serving Him day and night, over earth and sea. Service to God consists not only in active work but also in patient resignation to His will and dispensation.
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Lines 1-8:
Milton gets rather impatient at the thought of his blindness. He is blind in the middle age. Blindness prevents him from using his poetic talent by writing something great to glorify God. He has a keen desire to serve God by using his poetic talent, because he knows that God wants man to use his God-given power or he may be punished. In an impatient mood Milton doubts if God would be just in demanding work from a blind man like him.
Lines 8-14:
Milton's attitude of doubt passes off in a moment. His inner conscience rises up with its faith in God's justice. He realizes that God does not need man's work by way of service to him; nor does he care whether man uses His gifts. He is the King of kings; His dominion is over the universe. He has thousands of angels doing His biddings at all times flying over land and sea. He has thousands of others who stand by His throne and sing His praise. The latter too are as good as beloved as the active angels. So, patient submission to His will is the best service to Him.
But Patience, to prevent - The Heart of the SonnetFor a moment, and only for a moment, Milton is perturbed at the thought that God may punish him for not using his poetic gift rightly in doing something great in His service. He doubts God's justice and wisdom. But the next moment his inner sense of resignation to the Divine will pulls him up. He at once realizes that God does not care for the active service of man, nor does He take back the gifts bestowed on man, if man cannot use them for adequate reason. God is neither so thoughtless nor so poor. Milton realizes that service to God consists in patient submission to His will; those who uncomplainingly take the afflictions of God as His measure for correcting and improving them and thus resign themselves fully to His all-wise and all-just providence, are His true servants. Why 'On His Blindness' is considered one of the greatest all time sonnets?This is a popular question and students tends to get answer it in the perspective of literary analysis. However, I visualize it in a totally different way. The reason why 'On His Blindness' is such a great Sonnet is because of Milton himself and the confession he makes in this sonnet. Milton is certainly ranked in the highest level, par with other literary emperors. His exceptional epic pieces, "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained" were written after he was completely blind.His enormous faith in God made him able to produce works of such rare talent, and in this sonnet, he admitted his faith in God, made a yearning desire to write something great and dedicate it as a service to God. His admission and faith provided him the power to produce his 'Immortal epics' This is why, "On His Blindness" is so important as a sonnet when one studies about Milton's life.
I have a working note, complete line by line exhaustive analysis of this poem, "On his Blindness" which I may publish within some days. However, if anyone of you are in need of that, do let me know through your comments. Then, I shall stretch myself to publish it here, a bit faster
arcrostic
In "On His Blindness," John Milton regrets that he wasted his time and talent because of his blindness. He laments that he may not be able to use his gift of writing to serve God, as he had originally hoped.
The rhyme scheme of "On His Blindness" by John Milton is ABBAABBACDCDCD.
John Milton wrote the poem "On His Blindness" to reflect on his own struggles with blindness and his search for meaning and purpose in his life despite his physical limitations. The poem grapples with themes of acceptance, faith, and finding value in serving God through different means beyond just sight.
The title of the poem "On His Blindness" by John Milton refers to the poet's own blindness. It explores Milton's reflections on how he can still serve God and fulfill his purpose despite his loss of sight. The poem delves into themes of acceptance, patience, and the inner spiritual journey of coming to terms with one's limitations.
In "On His Blindness," John Milton expresses frustration over his loss of sight and questions how he can serve God effectively without his vision. He does not scold God, but rather contemplates his role and purpose in serving God despite his physical limitations. Milton ultimately finds solace in the belief that serving God does not require sight, but rather faithfulness and devotion.
The problem in John Milton's "On His Blindness" is his feeling of despair at losing his sight and questioning how he can serve God. The solution comes in the realization that even though he may be physically blind, he can still serve God through his poetry and faith. This internal struggle ultimately leads to a recognition of acceptance and trust in God's plan.
John Milton was blind. He wrote "Paradise Lost"- one of his masterpieces during his blindness...
"On His Blindness" by John Milton is a Petrarchan sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD) and usually explores themes of love or unattainable desire. Milton wrote this poem to reflect his inner thoughts and struggles upon realizing his loss of sight.
John Milton lost his eyesight due to progressive blindness, but he regained his spiritual vision through his epic poem "Paradise Lost," which explores themes of sin, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil.
The poem containing the words "If I were blind ..." was written by John Milton in his poem "On His Blindness." In the poem, Milton reflects on his own blindness and questions how he can serve God despite his physical limitation.
The speaker in John Milton's Sonnet XIX reflects on his blindness and how his physical disability prevents him from fully utilizing his talents and abilities in the world. He questions the purpose and value of his life now that he is unable to fulfill his potential due to his blindness. Ultimately, the speaker finds solace in the idea that his true worth lies in serving God faithfully, regardless of his physical limitations.
The tone of Sonnet XIX by John Milton is contemplative and reflective. The speaker reflects on the passage of time and the loss of his eyesight, but ultimately finds solace in his faith and the idea of spiritual illumination.