Milton's When I Consider How My Light is Spent

As with most poets, John Milton's work was greatly influenced by his own life and experiences. One of his more famous sonnets, "When I consider how my light is spent", was written shortly after he fell victim to blindness in 1652 (Jokinen 1). The poem, written in the Petrarchan form, is a musing upon his own impending darkness that reveals both his immense faith in God and his fear of losing the ability to continue writing.

Milton was born in London on December 9, 1608 to a scrivener (the equivalent of a modern-day legal secretary). Due to his family's relative affluence, he was able to receive a comprehensive education that included the study of the classical languages with private tutors (Jokinen 1). He continued his schooling at Cambridge, where he first began to write poetry. By 1632, Milton had left Cambridge for a six year period of private study during which he continued to write and publish poetry. When England became embroiled in civil war, Milton, a fierce proponent of Parliament, turned his attention toward writing political brochures and pamphlets including Of Prelatical Episcopacy (1641), The Reason for Church Government (1642), and The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (1649). After King Charles I was overthrown and the Cromwell government took over, Milton was asked to be the Secretary for Foreign Tongues. His main duty was to translate letters and documents into Latin ("John" 1). While working for the revolutionary government, Milton continued to write propaganda such as A Treatise of Civil Power (1659) and Ready and Easy Way To Establish a Free Commonwealth (1659). In 1660 Charles II was named king, reinstalling the monarchy. Milton was imprisoned for his involvement with the Cromwell government, though he was released after only a few months. With his government career finished, Milton turned his attention towards finishing his epic poem Paradise Lost. Though struggling with debilitating blindness, he was able to dictate the verses to his daughters. In 1667, just seven years before his death, Milton finally published what would be regarded as one of the most monumental works of the English language (Jokinen 1).

The sonnet "When I consider how my life is spent", one of his more famous works, is awash in themes of faith and the fear of the unknown. Milton, a man known for his deep religious convictions and devotion to God, laments that he will be forced to spend the remainder of his life in darkness rendering his talents "useless" (Milton, line 4). Though most in his situation would curse God, Milton does the opposite; he writes that "my soul more bent / to serve therewith my Master, and present my true account" (lines 4-6). Essentially, he is saying that blindness has only made him more devout and that he would rather serve God than drown in a pool of self-pity. He goes on to write "'Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?'" (line 7), by which he asks God rhetorically whether he has done enough with his life to show his devotion.

The second half of the poem is written from the point of view of the personified Patience (Carey 333). He reassures the speaker that what He wants more than "either man's work or His own gifts" (line 10) is to know that one is faithful to God and that they can silently endure setbacks and hardships (Carey 333). He ends the poem by remarking that He has 'Thousands at his bidding speed" (line 12), and that these angels serve even those "who only stand and wait" (line 14). This final statement expresses the general point of the poem: that God extends his love to those who truly have faith, whether they are in possession of immense talents or not.

Milton is a man who perfectly encapsulates the Puritan religious mindset; he is a man who has the utmost faith in God and His doings, even when they cause great misfortune or suffering. In the face of paramount tragedy, the great English poet reassures himself that even without sight or the employment of his talents he is able to serve God. In this way, "When I consider how my life is spent" is a poem that reflects an immense triumph of the human spirit.

Aniina Jokenen,http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/miltonbio.htm">The Life of John Milton, Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Milton-John.html"> John Milton Biography, Notable Biographies

John Carey, John Milton: Complete Shorter Poems