"BELIEVER"

A philanthropist named Sarah Ban Breathnach once said that "Real life isn't always going
to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgement of what is working in our lives
can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties. This quotation makes a simple
reminder that not everything that people wished to have will be granted. People may face
something that they never wish to happen but still come their way and the only thing that can be
done was to accept it wholeheartedly and make something about it, to make used of it to prosper
with life. It reflects the work of John Milton, an English poet who published a book during 1673
entitled "On His Blindness". The poem revolves around the personal account of the writer about
how he surpassed and make use of his disability to serve God. John Milton "On His Blindness"
unleashed the value of acknowledging one's talent and self-worth by using personification and
alliteration.

The poet thinks of how he spent his life before blindness and after it. He realizes that he
does not make use of the talent God had given him and regretted what he have done.

" When I consider how my light is spent

Here are half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is dear to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent".

In the first and second line the poet was thinking of how he spent his light that symbolizes his
life "Ere" before and now that he was in "dark world and wide" that visualizes the blindness and
the thought of the writer that he's been in a place that is endless for he sees nothing but darkness.
Moreover, in line 3 he then speaks about his talent which he "dear to hide" reflecting about he
does not make use of it when he can still see. From this we can tell that Milton was reminiscing
about his life and started to think being useless after disregarding his talent.

Milton realizes God's gift of talent and decides to use it to serve him and show his true
motive. He also wanted to give something to God and this was the writings he had accomplished
for he was worried that when God’s advent has come he will be scolded after not proving what
he can do about his talent.

"And that one talent which is death to hide

Lodg’d with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,"

Milton speaks of his “talent,” the skills he knows with words and his love for writing that was his
entire life. He uses his talent to give glory to God. His livelihood and self-worth depended on it.
This word “talent” is the most important in understanding these lines (line 3). When Milton
refers to the talent, he relates the loss of his ability to read and write to the servant in Matthew 25
who buries the money given to him by God in the desert rather than investing it wisely. It is
“death” to Milton to have hidden, through no choice of his own in this case, his talents beneath
his blindness. The next lines begin to speak to Milton’s devotion to God. He explains that his
talents are still hidden even though his soul is more bent” (line 4) to serve God and present his
accounts through writing. He wants nothing more than to do right by God and serve him. He
must do all he can to speak for God, “lest he return chide.” (line 6) So that if God returns, he will
not chide or admonish Milton for not taking advantage of the gifts that God has given him.

The writer wonders what God expects him to do after being blind. He then realizes that
God want nothing from his servant but for his people to make use of the talent given to them. In
addition he also found out that those who serve God the most are not only those who go travel in
so many places but also those who waited patiently.

'Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?

. I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, 'God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who is the best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His State
. Is Kingly: thousands at his bidding speed
. And post o'er Land and Ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.'

At line 7 the writer was visualizing God as an employer whom he asked whether it expects a
worker to do his task even if there " light denied" is no light whereas for the writer it means that
God still expects him to write even though he is blind. Moving on to line 8 the poet used the
word " I fondly ask" to keep respect to God for he cannot confront him for he is almighty.
Proceeding at line 9 to 10 he decides that God is more forgiving than he was giving him credit
for, Surely, knowing of his condition and strong desire to please Him, God wouldn't expect
anything that he couldn't possibly accomplish. At line 11 he came up thinking who best bears
God's mild "yoke" which symbolizes light burden whereas for the writer is his blindness.
Matthew 24:46 New International Version ``It will be good for that servant whose master finds
him doing so when he returns'' reminding God's words "Blessed is he who has found his work;
let him not ask for anything more." that entails accepting things as they are. The writer said "they
serve him best" visualizing the ability of coping up with God's challenges will fulfill his will. In
relation to that, in line 12 to 14 the word "king" was used to symbolize God who has thousands
of people who follow his commands with "bidding speed" travel fast without taking rest. He then
finally realizes that there is no need to go so far as long as you are ready and will wait, you also
serve God best. This implied that the writer eventually found his worth that there's no need for
him to be like others who can do a lot of things. Even though he is blind as long as he does what
God commands him to do with his talent it is more than enough.

Milton do not understand why God would make blind if writing was his great talent and it
requires a sense of sight. He asked God he expected him to do with his talent. At the end of the
poem Milton decided to makes use of his talent. He does not compare himself to others instead
he sees his worth and that makes him awe-inspiring. This poem is important because it reminds
the readers to be contented on what they have. This also says that God will never put you into
something you cannot accomplish. That all we need is to trust God's wisdom and act upon his
will.
THESIS STATEMENT: John Milton "On His Blindness" unleashed the value of acknowledging
one's talent and self-worth by using symbolism and imagery.