Student Question
Why does Milton reference the Biblical parable of talents in "When I consider how my light is spent?"
Quick answer:
Milton references the Biblical parable of the talents to reflect on his blindness and its impact on his poetic gift. In the parable, servants are rewarded or punished based on how they use their talents. Milton fears being unable to serve God as a poet due to his blindness, questioning whether God still expects his previous output. Ultimately, he finds solace in realizing that patience and acceptance of his condition are also forms of service to God.
The poet John Milton became blind later in his life, and this sonnet is one of the first that he wrote about his condition. The Biblical parable of the talents relates how a man who does not use his God-given talents while on earth will be punished, and Milton refers to it here because he is wondering how he will employ his talent as a poet to its fullest extent now that he is blind. Milton calls his gift "that one talent which is death to hide," but says it is "Lodg'd with me useless," now that is vision, or "light," is "spent." He would like to continue serving God with his gift, so that he will not be "chide[d]" or scolded when God calls him to account, but he wonders, "Does God exact day-labour, light denied," questioning whether God still expects him to work as he did before, now that...
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he can no longer see. The Biblical parable is directly related to what the poet fears - that he will still be held accountable for using his gift as he did before, even though he is now blind.
Upon reflection, the poet finds consolation in the realization that God, who is almighty, does not need his paltry work. God is merciful and understanding, and Milton, now blind, can still serve him by being patient, and bearing his suffering without complaint - "who best bear his mild yoke, they serve him best." God's mercy transcends the literal message of the Biblical parable, and the poet is consoled with the realization that "They also serve who only stand and wait."
Explain the Biblical parable of the talents in Milton's "When I Consider How My Light is Spent".
In the poem commonly known as "When I consider how my light is spent," John Milton refers to a Biblical parable found in the books of Matthew and Luke. In this parable, a man was preparing to leave on a lengthy trip and entrusted three of his servants with differing amounts of money in his absence. One servant received five talents, one received two talents, and the final servant received one talent.
Each of the first two servants chose to invest the money entrusted to him and ended up doubling the amount given him. The last servant, who had been allotted one talent, chose to hid the money, rather than risk or venture anything.
When the "lord of those servants" returned, he called them to him and was thrilled with the cunning of the first two servants. Because they had acted wisely, he promoted them. The servant who had hidden his money told his master that he had been frightened and hidden the money. The master was furious and ordered that he have the talent taken from him and given "unto him which hath ten talents."