Skip to main content

What is the attitude of the speaker in Milton's poem "On His Blindness"?

Milton's poem "On His Blindness" is an autobiographical poem written in the first person, responding to Milton's having lost his sight in middle age. It is written in the form of an Italian sonnet. The speaker displays one attitude in the octave and a different attitude in the sestet.


In the octave, Milton expresses frustration with his blindness, because it prevents him from serving God through his writing. He does not understand why God would...

Milton's poem "On His Blindness" is an autobiographical poem written in the first person, responding to Milton's having lost his sight in middle age. It is written in the form of an Italian sonnet. The speaker displays one attitude in the octave and a different attitude in the sestet.


In the octave, Milton expresses frustration with his blindness, because it prevents him from serving God through his writing. He does not understand why God would take away the sight that has enabled Milton to write poems such as Paradise Lost which "justify the ways of God to men." 


The sestet resolves this agonizing sense of loss with a more profound understanding of God. Milton realizes that God can work in multiple ways through innumerable servants, and thus that it is arrogant to assume that God somehow relies on Milton uniquely to do his work. Instead, there are multiple ways of serving God, and if it is God's will that Milton is blind, then God will only demand of Milton such service as can be accomplished by a blind person. This reconciles Milton to his blindness.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more