Q2 Discuss the main idea of the sonnet 'On his Blindness'. [10 Marks]
Answers
Answer:
On His Blindness' centers on Milton's faith in God as he is losing his sight. The poem is a sonnet that uses figurative language to express Milton's fear, frustration, and acceptance. The poem signals a turn when Milton shifts from fear of punishment to realization.
Answer:
The poem “On His Blindness” by John Milton describes the poet’s sorrow and grief over the loss of his eyesight and ultimately, in the end, his submission to God’s Will. The poem begins with the poet memorising how he served humanity by writing poetry when he had eyesight.
Now that he has lost his eyesight, he is unable to write poetry and thus he can neither serve humanity nor God. He fears that God will ask him about his talent on the Day of Judgement. But he soon realises that God does not need anybody’s work. He will be serving God if he bears his blindness.
He quotes the example of two types of angels who serve God. Some of them take His orders across the seas at the speed of light. However, there are some other angels as well who just stand and wait and still serving Him.