John Milton - Sonnet XVI - On His Blindness - Summary & Analysis

About Author -

John Milton was born in London on December 9, 1608, into a middle-class family. He is most famous for his epic poem Paradise Lost. 

John Milton’s writing career was long and diverse and certain themes such as that religion, love, and politics were quite frequent. He spent his life grappling with ideas of personal, political, and religious freedom.

The Theme of The Poem - 

John Milton used the Petrarchan form of the sonnet. The poem On His Blindness is about Milton's struggle to accept the restraints imposed on him by God. Milton also brings in a new invention and breaks the constraints of the sonnets by using enjambment - continuing the sense without a pause. Milton didn't believe in using rhyme and considered it a constraint and hindrance to the poet. For him, the overall sense and theme of the poem were more important than giving a rhyming and song-like feeling to the poems. Sonnet XVI follows the same pattern. 

Sonnet XVI - On His Blindness - Summary & Analysis

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. 

The poet begins the octave of the sonnet with a thought when he thinks about how he went blind before he reached the midpoint of his life in the big dark wide world; When he considers that his greatest talent of writing, which would kill him to hide is now useless. Though his soul is more bent and wants to use it to serve his maker, God, and to prove that he has made good use of his life. 

So he doesn't rebuke him for the way he has spent his life. 

When I think about all this, I ask fondly, Does God wants me to do work that requires sight after denying me that vision/light?

But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

But that internal sense of patience in him replaces his thoughts and murmur and the poet responds to himself that God does not need man's work or his gifts. Whoever best obeys his commands serves him the best. He is like a king, thousands of people rush around at his bidding, and pass over land and ocean without rest.

Those who simply wait for his commands are the ones who gets to serve him.