Would you agree that Milton reflects on blindness in Sonnets 19 & 23? Give a reasoned answer.

John Milton’s reflections on blindness in Sonnet 19 (“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent”) and Sonnet 23 (“Methought I Saw My Late Espoused Saint”) have long been the subject of critical interpretation. Both sonnets reflect deeply personal experiences in Milton’s life, particularly his gradual loss of sight, which had a profound impact on his poetic career and his relationship with the divine. These sonnets delve into themes of faith, personal struggle, and spiritual redemption, reflecting Milton’s complex emotional and theological concerns in response to his blindness.

In this essay, I will explore how Milton contemplates his blindness in these two sonnets, focusing on the thematic content, literary techniques, and the broader philosophical and religious implications of his condition. By juxtaposing Sonnet 19 and Sonnet 23, we can see how Milton’s understanding of his blindness evolves from a personal crisis of faith to a deeper spiritual reconciliation.

Sonnet 19: “When I consider how my light is spent”

In Sonnet 19, also known as “When I consider how my light is spent,” Milton directly addresses his blindness. The sonnet is a poignant meditation on his loss of vision and its impact on his life and work. The phrase “how my light is spent” is a metaphor for his blindness, with “light” symbolizing his sight and, more broadly, his ability to perceive and understand the world.

Milton begins by contemplating his condition and the frustration of being unable to use his talents as he once did. He questions how he can serve God without his sight, expressing a deep sense of helplessness and despair. This internal struggle is evident in the lines:

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

Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide;

Here, Milton reflects on the biblical parable of the talents, where a servant is punished for not using his given talent. Milton fears that his blindness will prevent him from fulfilling his purpose and serving God effectively.

The turning point in the sonnet comes with the entrance of “Patience,” personified as a voice that reassures Milton. Patience tells him that God does not require man’s work or gifts, but rather, those who bear their burdens with patience also serve Him. This is encapsulated in the famous concluding line:

They also serve who only stand and wait.

This line signifies Milton’s acceptance of his condition and his realization that patience and faith are also valuable forms of service. It reflects a profound spiritual insight and a reconciliation with his blindness.

Sonnet 23: “Methought I saw my late espoused saint”

Sonnet 23, “Methought I saw my late espoused saint,” is less directly about blindness but still reflects Milton’s personal struggles, including his blindness. The sonnet describes a dream in which Milton sees his deceased wife, Katherine Woodcock, who appears to him as a “saint.” The vivid imagery and emotional depth of the poem suggest that Milton’s blindness intensifies his longing and his visions in dreams.

The sonnet opens with a dream vision:

Methought I saw my late espoused saint

Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave,

Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave,

Rescued from death by force, though pale and faint.

In this dream, Milton’s wife is brought back to him, reminiscent of the mythological figure Alcestis, who was brought back from the dead. This vision is a source of comfort and solace for Milton, as it allows him to “see” his wife again, even if only in a dream.

The sonnet continues with Milton describing his wife’s appearance and the joy he feels at seeing her:

Mine, as whom washed from spot of child-bed taint

Purification in the old Law did save,

And such, as yet once more I trust to have

Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,

Here, Milton expresses his hope of being reunited with his wife in Heaven, where he will have “full sight” of her. This line is particularly poignant, as it reflects Milton’s longing for both his wife and his lost vision. The dream vision provides a temporary reprieve from his blindness, allowing him to experience the joy of sight once more.

The sonnet concludes with a bittersweet awakening:

But O, as to embrace me she inclined,

I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night.

The final line, “day brought back my night,” is a powerful metaphor for Milton’s blindness. The return to waking life brings back the darkness of his blindness, contrasting sharply with the light and vision of the dream. This line encapsulates the transient nature of the dream and the enduring reality of his blindness.

Conclusion

In both Sonnet 19 and Sonnet 23, Milton reflects on his blindness in profound and nuanced ways. Sonnet 19 directly addresses his loss of vision and its impact on his ability to serve God, ultimately finding solace in the idea that patience and faith are also forms of service. Sonnet 23, while less directly about blindness, uses the dream vision of his wife to explore themes of loss, longing, and the temporary reprieve from blindness that dreams provide.

Milton’s reflections on blindness in these sonnets reveal his deep spiritual and emotional struggles, as well as his resilience and ability to find meaning and purpose despite his physical limitations. His ability to transform personal suffering into profound poetic expression is a testament to his enduring genius and the timeless relevance of his work.