Critical Appreciation of the poem “On His Blindness”.

Critical Appreciation of the poem “On His Blindness”.

John Milton’s (1608-74) “On His Blindness” (1673) is a heartfelt poem. It shares his feelings about losing his eyesight and his trust in God. The poem is written in the style of a sonnet, with 14 lines. It begins with sadness and ends with hope. The message is simple: even those who cannot work can still serve God by having faith.

Milton’s Problem: The poem starts with Milton’s worries. He feels sad because he is blind. He thinks he cannot use the gift (his talent) that God gave him. He fears that God will be unhappy with him. This makes him question his purpose in life.

Patience’s Answer: Patience is like a voice in his mind. It tells him not to worry. Patience says God does not need people to work for Him. Instead, God wants people to have faith and carry out their responsibilities calmly. This answer helps Milton feel peaceful.

Message of Hope: The poem gives an important lesson. It says everyone can serve God in their own way. Even those who cannot work or move can serve by trusting God. This message is very comforting and gives hope to people facing problems.

Simple and Powerful Style: Milton’s words are easy to understand but full of meaning. He uses “light” to mean eyesight and “yoke” to mean life’s struggles. The last line, “They also serve who only stand and wait,” is very powerful. It shows that patience and faith are also ways to serve God.

Poetic Form and Structure: The sonnet is written in the Petrarchan or Italian sonnet form. It consists of 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme (ABBAABBA CDECDE). This traditional structure gives the poem a sense of order and discipline. 

This poem is about sadness and faith. Milton teaches us to trust God even when life is hard. The message is simple and inspiring for everyone.