When I Consider How My Light Is Spent By John Milton

“When I Consider How My Light is Spent” (Milton Line 1) is a great sonnet 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 in the course of the sonnet, tells the reader that he was having trouble with losing his vision; which occurred in 1652. He was not able to fully use his talent of writing poetry and he thought 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

This sonnet is a parable, because Milton teaches himself the religious lesson of having absolute faith in his religion despite hardships.
The writing starts off with Milton considering how his “light is spent”(Milton Line 1) or in other words, how he used up his vision and now it’s gone before even half his life is over. He now has no light and he lives in a setting that is “dark” and wide” (Milton Line 2). He then points out to his talent “which is death to hide” (Milton Line 3) which alludes 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 its “death to hide” (Milton Line 3) a clear reference to the parable. It is also a direct reference to his

He cared a great deal about his talent for writing and was not sure what to how to deal with this disability. 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 is 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 is trying his best and that is probably all God wants him to do. It is a parable in the sense that he teaches himself about his faith, and that the higher power knows what is best for him; and the Ruler only makes us go through what we can handle. God gives the hardest battles to the strongest soldier is a great analogy that would absolutely describe Milton, at this point in his life. Consequently, he is going through a rough time, but he can find a silver lining in his situation. Furthermore, the sonnet teaches a ton about bravery and courage in the way that Milton had to have needed a lot of the two qualities to recognize this. Also, Milton was a great writer and just wanted to use his talent to the best of his ability. In addition, he was dealt a horrible hand when he lost his vision completely; he was handling it his own way. I applaud his will and his faith in the Heavens. Everything he taught in this sonnet makes a lot more sense when you take into account-- he was blind. The average reader would