Vision and appearance are major themes in the pieces of Gilbert, Milton and Shakespeare. Those themes lead to the conclusion of what is someone’s purpose in life. At first glance it appears that William Shakespeare is comparing his mistress to objects in nature but when read closer he is actually saying how his love for his mistress is something that cannot be described with false words which is seen in “I think my love as rare/As any she, belied with false compare.” It is not something that the eye can see but is rather something that he has felt for a long time. His love has been a part of his life.
In John Milton’s When I consider how my light is spent he speaks of his blindness. Although he is blind he still has a purpose in life, a vision. When the speaker(Milton) went blind he became very frustrated due to the fact that he thought God had given him a great talent to use, his writing and now he wold not be able to fulfill his gift. In the poem another word for light could be time, “When I consider how my (time) is spent…” because he is expressing his frustration of his blindness and thinks about how he is wasting time being blind. At the end he realizes his purpose is to “stand and wait”. This topic connects to The Whale Rider. Kahu is frustrated that Koro does not recognize that she is the “one”. She expresses her frustration through demonstrating to him her talents. She finally realizes that he is blind to her talents and the way to show him is to wait for an event to occur where she is needed. Kahu stands and waits and finally shows that she was given a great talent and she demonstrates it to Koro.
Many people find their talent and their purpose in life early on while others search and eventually stumble upon it. Elizabeth Gilbert portrays this search in her work “One Word”. While in Rome the narrator observes the life style of many of its’ inhabitants and realizes that somehow she does not fit in. She sits with one of her friends and they speak of the word that describes them and their cities. When confronted with the question of “what’s your word?” (104) the narrator was unable to answer. This piece demonstrates the question what is my purpose in life, where am I going and what am I doing? This question is answered in the Jesuit education and being here at Loyola. With sayings such as “men and women for and with others” and “go forth and set the world on fire” students at Loyola know what they should be doing. Besides knowing they also do. Events such as service learning allow students to go out and realize their purpose and what word describes them.
The three pieces from this week all exemplify the main focus in a persons life. Gilbert and Milton both speak of the purpose in a persons life. Whether is is a talent that is ordained by God or the word the describes you or your city, people will search until they find their purpose. In William Shakespeare's sonnet, his mistress has become such an important focus in his life that words cannot describe her because they would only be false. He knows his love through the time in his life he has spent with his mistress. The pieces also connect to the ideals of a Jesuit education and learning where you fit in.