John Milton criticizes our modern achievement-oriented society in his sonnet “On his blindness” because nowadays performance is a precondition for high regard and appreciation of somebody. However, his poem can serve as a statement in favor of a person’s worthiness independent of one’s performance and workload.
The expression achievement-oriented society means that the distributions of goods like economic resources but also “prestige” and “power” are dependent on the attributed individual’s performance. This functionality is the so called “achievement principle” (Arzberger 24). In other words: Reputation is due to measurable accomplishments. Who does not achieve enough, does not gain any esteem.
In order to examine my thesis I am going to analyze both the sonnet’s poetic and rhetorical form. First of all I am going to point out the gist of the poem briefly.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness"
- Content and the author's background
- Poetic and rhetorical form
- Conclusion
- Works cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this essay is to analyze John Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness" and argue that it serves as a statement about the inherent worth of individuals, independent of their measurable achievements. This perspective challenges the modern achievement-oriented society, where performance is often equated with worthiness and appreciation.
- The societal emphasis on achievements and performance in the 21st century.
- The role of religious faith in shaping Milton's perspective and the poem.
- The interplay between the speaker's self-doubt and the voice of "Patience" in the sonnet.
- The interpretation of Milton's sonnet through a contemporary lens, exploring its relevance to modern societal values.
- An examination of the sonnet's poetic and rhetorical form to understand how Milton argues for the intrinsic value of an individual.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage for the analysis, highlighting the societal emphasis on achievements and performance in the 21st century. The essay argues that Milton's sonnet challenges this modern paradigm by advocating for the inherent worth of individuals, regardless of their measurable accomplishments.
The chapter dedicated to Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness" explores the poem's content and the author's background. The sonnet’s speaker laments his blindness and fears he has become worthless in God’s eyes due to his inability to work. The chapter discusses the historical context of the poem, highlighting Milton's religious beliefs and the importance of serving God in the 17th century.
The chapter on the sonnet's poetic and rhetorical form delves into the interaction between the speaker's self-doubt and the voice of "Patience," demonstrating how Milton argues for the individual's worthiness through the poem's structure and language. The chapter provides insights into Milton's literary style and the effectiveness of his poetic and rhetorical choices.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and focus topics of this essay include: achievement-oriented society, performance, inherent worth, religious faith, Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness," poetic and rhetorical form, individual value, societal values, and the 17th-century religious context.
- Quote paper
- Julia Wehner (Author), 2011, John Milton’s sonnet “On His Blindness” is a statement on the individual’s worthiness independent of one’s measurable achievements, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/173222
