'Sonnet 04' by John Milton

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The Poetical Works of John MiltonIVDiodati, e te'l diro con maraviglia,
Quel ritroso io ch'amor spreggiar solea
E de suoi lacci spesso mi ridea
Gia caddi, ov'huom dabben talhor s'impiglia.
Ne treccie d'oro, ne guancia vermiglia
M' abbaglian si, ma sotto nova idea
Pellegrina bellezza che'l cuor bea,
Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia
Quel sereno fulgor d' amabil nero,
Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una,E'l cantar che di mezzo l'hemispero
Traviar ben puo la faticosa Luna,
E degil occhi suoi auventa si gran fuoco
Che l 'incerar gli oreechi mi fia poco.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 04: A Literary Masterpiece by John Milton

Sonnet 04 is one of the most iconic works of John Milton, a prominent English poet, and essayist of the 17th century. This sonnet is a part of the larger collection of sonnets named "On His Blindness," which is believed to be Milton's reflection on his own blindness, and how it affected his perception of the world around him. In this essay, I will be analyzing the literary aspects of Sonnet 04 and its interpretation.

Literary Analysis

To begin with, Sonnet 04 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, comprising of three quatrains and a couplet. Each quatrain presents an idea or observation, followed by a couplet that concludes the argument or thought. The sonnet's rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with a consistent iambic pentameter.

The sonnet starts with a rhetorical question, "O, how shall I then look on the gift of God?" In this line, the speaker is questioning how he can continue to appreciate the world's beauty when he is blind; this question sets the theme of the sonnet, which is the speaker's struggle with his blindness. The use of rhetorical questioning in the first line of the sonnet is a literary device used to create a sense of uncertainty and anxiety in the reader's mind.

The second quatrain is where the speaker presents his dilemma. He observes that even though he is blind, he is still aware of the world's beauty, and this beauty has been a gift from God. He describes his blindness as a loss, and he is unable to appreciate the world the way he used to. The speaker's sorrow and regret for his condition are evident in these lines.

In the third quatrain, the speaker continues to question himself, wondering if his blindness has made him unworthy of God's love. He wonders whether he will be punished because he can no longer appreciate the world's beauty that God has created. The speaker's sense of guilt and shame for being blind is palpable in these lines.

The couplet at the end of the sonnet provides a resolution to the speaker's dilemma. He concludes that his loss of sight is not a punishment from God but rather a test of faith. He realizes that his blindness is not a hindrance to his relationship with God; instead, it provides an opportunity to strengthen his faith and trust in God's plan.

Interpretation

Sonnet 04 is widely interpreted as John Milton's reflection on his own blindness, which he suffered in his forties. Milton was a renowned poet and essayist, and his blindness had a significant impact on his life and work. He felt that his blindness was a punishment from God for his past sins, and he struggled with feelings of guilt, shame, and anger. Hence, the sonnet is seen as a personal confession of his struggle with his blindness and his search for meaning and purpose in his life.

The first line of the sonnet, "O, how shall I then look on the gift of God?" sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The speaker reflects on the beauty of the world, which he can no longer see, and questions his ability to appreciate it. The speaker's sense of loss and grief is palpable; he feels that his blindness has deprived him of God's gift of sight and left him unworthy of God's love and mercy.

The second quatrain describes the speaker's struggle to come to terms with his blindness. He acknowledges that even though he is blind, he is still aware of the world's beauty, and he sees it as a gift from God. The use of the word "dark" in the third line of the quatrain creates a sense of irony, as the speaker's blindness has made his world dark, but he is still able to see the beauty in it. The speaker's sense of loss and regret for his condition is evident in these lines.

In conclusion, Sonnet 04 is a literary masterpiece that reflects John Milton's personal struggles with his blindness. The sonnet's structure, language, and imagery work together to create a powerful and poignant reflection on the human condition. The sonnet speaks to our universal fears and struggles, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, we can find meaning and purpose in our lives.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Milton's Sonnet 04 is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful representation of the poet's love for his deceased friend, Edward King. The sonnet is a tribute to King, who was a fellow student of Milton's at Cambridge University. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in Sonnet 04.

The sonnet is structured in the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The first quatrain sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, with the speaker expressing his grief over the loss of his friend. The second quatrain explores the idea of death and how it has taken away the speaker's friend. The third quatrain is a reflection on the speaker's own mortality and how he will eventually join his friend in death. The final couplet is a conclusion to the sonnet, with the speaker expressing his hope that his friend's memory will live on forever.

The theme of death is prevalent throughout the sonnet. The speaker is mourning the loss of his friend, who has been taken away by death. The speaker is also reflecting on his own mortality and how he will eventually join his friend in death. The use of imagery in the sonnet is also related to the theme of death. The speaker describes his friend as "the young-eyed cherubims" who have been taken away by death. The use of the word "cherubims" is significant, as it is a biblical reference to angels. This suggests that the speaker sees his friend as an angel who has been taken away by death.

The language used in the sonnet is also significant. The use of the word "mourn" in the first line sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The speaker is grieving the loss of his friend and is expressing his sadness through his words. The use of the word "lament" in the second line reinforces the idea of grief and sadness. The use of the word "sable" in the third line is significant, as it is a reference to mourning clothes. This reinforces the idea of grief and sadness.

The use of imagery in the sonnet is also significant. The speaker describes his friend as "the young-eyed cherubims" in the first quatrain. This is a beautiful image, as it suggests that the speaker sees his friend as an angel. The use of the word "young-eyed" is significant, as it suggests that the speaker sees his friend as innocent and pure. The use of the word "cherubims" is also significant, as it is a biblical reference to angels.

The use of metaphor in the sonnet is also significant. The speaker describes his friend as "the star that bids the shepherd fold" in the second quatrain. This is a metaphor for the speaker's friend being a guiding light for others. The use of the word "shepherd" is significant, as it suggests that the speaker sees his friend as a leader who guides others.

The final couplet of the sonnet is a conclusion to the sonnet. The speaker expresses his hope that his friend's memory will live on forever. The use of the word "fame" in the final line is significant, as it suggests that the speaker wants his friend to be remembered for all time. The use of the word "immortal" is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker wants his friend's memory to live on forever.

In conclusion, John Milton's Sonnet 04 is a beautiful tribute to his deceased friend, Edward King. The sonnet explores the themes of death and mortality, and the language used in the sonnet is significant in reinforcing these themes. The use of imagery and metaphor in the sonnet is also significant, as it adds depth and meaning to the poem. The final couplet is a conclusion to the sonnet, with the speaker expressing his hope that his friend's memory will live on forever. Overall, Sonnet 04 is a beautiful piece of poetry that has stood the test of time.

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