When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

John Milton’s sonnet, When I Consider How My Light Is Spent, is a poem about loss, obligation, and the relationship between God and man. To get the full meaning of the poem, one must know about the bible story that is alluded to and something about Milton’s life.

When first looking at this poem, it is easy to assume the word “light” to be substituted for “life.” Especially in a poem that makes mention of God, using light to symbolize life and darkness to symbolize death would not be surprising. However, knowing that Milton went blind in his forties, brings a whole new meaning and understanding to the poem. Now we see “light” and “dark” in a much more literal sense. When he “consider[s] how [his] light is spent,” he contemplates the time that he has with sight. In contrast, his “dark world” is one without sight. Milton’s “dark world,” however, can also symbolize his sense of being lost as he inquires God about his situation.

In questioning God, Milton compares his blindness to one of Jesus’s parables in the gospel of Matthew. Milton’s “one talent” refers to a parable where a man entrusts his servants with talents (money/coins). He gives one servant five, another, two, and another, one. The one with five went and traded and made five more. The one with two went and made two more, but the one with only one went and buried it in the ground. Upon returning from his journey, the man came to settle with the servants. The two that had doubled their talents were praised and welcomed with joy, but the servant who had buried his talent was reprimanded for being lazy and not using his gift. His talent was taken away and given to the one with ten. In this poem, Milton compares himself to the servant with only one talent, and fearing that going blind will prevent him from using his gift, he worries that God will reprimand him just as the servant was.

Though worried about his obligation to God and if he shall be punished, he seems to stop and recall his faith. His “Patience” (capitalized because it is personified here) reminds him that God does not need man’s work. Meaning that God gave men talents and they are used to glorify Him, to serve Him, but God is still complete without man’s work, He does not require the use of the gifts He gives. Patience also reminds Milton that those who serve God while “bear[ing] His mild yoke” serve him best. This means that those who do not complain of their burdens serve him best, and so, with this phrase Milton accepts that while bearing the burden of his blindness he can still serve. He then praises God in his “kingly” state. I must admit that the last line seems confusing and out-of-place, and I do not know what to make of it, but it is clear that this poem is filled with faith and reassurance.

This poem can be looked at in two main parts. One where the speaker grieves his loss of sight and worries about his obligation and the nature of God, and another where Patience (or rather the speaker’s mind) reassures himself of his faith and God’s own love. Although one many look at this poem as one about the loss of eyesight, I make the argument that the main element in the sonnet is that of faith, with eyesight being just one factor or piece to a bigger whole. Through this poem, Milton deals with his loss, and his contemplation of God and faith bring him to a better state and understanding.

Word count: 611

Who is the speaker of the poem? Is it safe to say it is Milton?
How did you interpret the word "light"?
Did you know of the parable in Matthew before reading the poem?
What do you take the last line to mean?