Q. Write a short note on “On His Blindness” as a sonnet.

Ans. John
Milton was one of the greatest English poets of all time. He also served as a
civil servant under Oliver Cromwell during the English Republic. However, his service to the government required that he extensively read
and write, which caused him to lose his sight by the age of 44. How did he cope with this devastating loss? How did he reconcile his
blindness with his poetic talent and his religious beliefs? These are some of
the questions that he explores in his famous sonnet, “On His Blindness” (also
known as “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent”).

The sonnet is in the Petrarchan form,
with an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme is abbaabba
cdecde. The meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten
syllables, alternating between unstressed and stressed syllables. The sonnet follows the Miltonic conception of the form, with a greater
usage of enjambment (the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the
end of a line) and syncope (the omission of sounds or letters from within a
word) .

The sonnet can be divided into two
parts: the problem and the solution. In the first eight lines, the speaker
expresses his anxiety and frustration over his blindness. He wonders how he can
serve God with his “one Talent” (line 3), which is his poetic ability, when he
cannot see the light. He feels that his talent is “lodged with [him] useless”
(line 4) and that he is wasting his life in this “dark world and wide” (line
2). He fears that God will demand an account of his service and that he will be
found wanting.

In the last six lines, the speaker
receives an answer to his dilemma from a personified voice of Patience. The
voice tells him that God does not need his work or gifts, for He has plenty of
servants who can obey His commands. God values not what a person does, but what
a person is. He does not judge by outward appearances, but by inward qualities.
He does not expect more than what a person can give, but only what a person can
bear. Therefore, the speaker should not be troubled by his blindness, but
rather accept it as God’s will. He should be content to “bear his mild yoke”
(line 10), which is a metaphor for God’s guidance and discipline. He should
also remember that “they also serve who only stand and wait” (line 14), which
means that those who are passive and faithful are also doing God’s service.

The sonnet is remarkable for its
simplicity and sincerity. It reveals Milton’s personal struggle with his
blindness and his faith in God’s providence. It also shows his resilience and
optimism in the face of adversity. The sonnet is not only a reflection of
Milton’s own experience, but also a universal message of hope and courage for
anyone who faces challenges or limitations in life.