When I consider how my light is spent On his blindness - Sonnet 19 John Milton Summary, When I consider how my light is spent On his blindness - Sonnet 19 John Milton essay, When I consider how my light is spent On his blindness - Sonnet 19 John Milton

 When I consider how my light is spent 

On his blindness - Sonnet 19

John Milton

Introduction

          John Milton’s Sonnet 19, often called “When I consider how my light is spent,” captures the poet’s internal struggle after losing his eyesight. The poem evaluates his fear of failing in his God-given purpose and then shifts toward a strategic understanding of divine expectations.

Milton’s Realisation of His Blindness

          The speaker reflects on how he became blind in the middle stage of his life. He sees the world as a dark place and feels that his most valuable talent—writing—has become useless. This creates anxiety, because he believes that hiding his talent would be a serious mistake.

Conflict About Serving God

          He worries that he cannot complete the work God expects from him. He questions whether God would still demand tasks that require sight after taking away that sight. This doubt reflects his fear of being judged for not using his abilities.

Patience Provides the Answer

          His inner voice, symbolised as Patience, counters this fear. It states that God does not depend on human labour or special talents. Obedience matters more than action. Even those who quietly wait for God’s direction serve Him effectively.

Conclusion

          The poem finally communicates that service to God is not measured by physical work but by sincere faith and willingness to obey.

When I consider how my light is spent - On his blindness - Sonnet 19 by John Milton in Tamil 

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