The poem starts with the speaker, Milton, reflecting upon his blindness and how

God expects him to make full use of his ability as a writer, if he cannot even s
ee the paper on which he writes. The talent of the ?poet is useless now that he
is losing his sight? (Napierkowski 262), even though he wishes to serve God with
his writing now more than ever. After stating this problem, he wonders if God w
ants him to do smaller tasks since he can no longer see light or use his talent.
Milton?s own patience answers his question as foolish: that God does not need m
an to do work for Him and those obedient to Him ?[bear] his mild yoke? (Milton 1
0). Patience continues to tell Milton that God is being continuously served by t
housands of people and the natural world. Most importantly Milton understands th
at waiting can be its own kind of service. When expressing this, Milton expresse
s it in a tone of depression and frustration.
He uses the word ?light? to refer to his blindness and also his inner light. Man
y references are made to monetary exchange within his thoughts on his blindness
and duty to God. The words that have monetary connotations are ?spent,? ?talent,
? ?useless,? ?account,? and ?exact.? Along with the words that have monetary dic
tion, are his Biblical references. When ?talent? is used, it can refer to the st
ory of a master giving three servants coins to hold for him. The master rewards
the two that spent them wisely and cast into darkness the servant that has burie
d it. If Milton buries his talent to use at a later date, it might become hidden
forever, and no good will come of it. Then he will be cast into God?s darkness.
Again Milton makes reference to the Bible when he says, ?Who best / Bear his mi
ld yoke, they serve him best? (Milton 10-1). The yoke, ox harness, represents th
e will of God. Patience is capitalized in the eighth line and becomes more clear
ly personified when answering Milton?s question.
?Sonnet 16? is an Italian sonnet. Its rhyme scheme is abba abba cde cde. It has
?an octave, or first eight lines, [that] poses a problem, and [a] sestet, or las
t six lines, [that] offers an answer? (Napierkowski 264). The volta, or turn, is
usually contained in the ninth line, but Milton places it in the middle of the
eighth, which helps convey a feeling of impatience. The enjambments also make th
e poem seem hurried and the ?last line stand out by contrast; in some sense they
help the last line perform what its theme is, to stand still and wait? (Napierk
owski 264). The iambic pentameter makes the poem balanced.
There are four main themes in ?On His Blindness.? One is limitation. Milton beli
eves that his blindness will ruin his chances for using his talents as he once c
ould have done. Without his sight, it becomes even more difficult to create poet
ry, or even write it down for others to read. The light in the poem becomes anot
her theme. The reader ?only need[s] to notice the importance that he put on ligh
t after his sight was gone to see what it meant to him? (Kelly 269). Not only do
es it represent the light that is seen with the eyes, but also the spiritual lig
ht and the light of life. The day can be a metaphor for life and ?our lives are
limited and once night comes that day is gone forever? (Napierkowski 263). Thoug
h Milton?s life has not expired, his life of poetry has died. Duty and submissio
n are the last two themes. His duty is to make use of the ?talents? that have be
en given to him. At the end, he realizes that God does not need man to do work f
or Him and that he will be able to serve God in another way other than how he ha
d served Him before.