“On His Deceased Wife” by John Milton: A Critical Analysis

Me thought I saw my late espousèd Saint  

  Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave,  

  Whom Joves great Son to her glad Husband gave,  

  Rescu’d from death by force though pale and faint.  

Mine as whom washt from spot of child-bed taint,

  Purification in the old Law did save,  

  And such, as yet once more I trust to have  

  Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,  

Came vested all in white, pure as her mind:  

  Her face was vail’d, yet to my fancied sight,

  Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin’d  

So clear, as in no face with more delight.  

  But O as to embrace me she enclin’d  

  I wak’d, she fled, and day brought back my night.

1. Love and Loss

The central theme of “On His Deceased Wife” is the profound love Milton feels for his departed wife and the deep sense of loss he experiences. The poem captures the emotional intensity of his longing for her, expressed through the vivid dream in which she appears to him. Phrases like “Me thought I saw my late espousèd Saint” and “Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin’d” illustrate Milton’s idealized memory of her virtues and his enduring devotion. The dream’s fleeting nature, marked by the line “I wak’d, she fled, and day brought back my night,” highlights the pain of her absence and the harsh return to reality after the solace of the dream.

2. Spiritual Consolation and Reunion

Milton’s deep faith provides solace in his grief, as he envisions a spiritual reunion with his wife in heaven. He likens her return in the dream to the myth of Alcestis, who was miraculously restored to her husband, and expresses hope that he will see her again “in Heaven without restraint.” The reference to “Purification in the old Law did save” emphasizes his belief in her spiritual purification and eternal life, affirming the Christian hope of divine grace and ultimate reunion in the afterlife.

3. Mortality and Transience

The poem reflects on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death. Milton’s wife, though “rescued from death” in his vision, remains “pale and faint,” a reminder of her mortal frailty. The fleeting quality of the dream, where she “fled” as he woke, underscores the ephemeral nature of such consolations in the face of loss. The juxtaposition of life and death, particularly in the metaphor “day brought back my night,” encapsulates the human experience of mourning and the lingering shadow of mortality.

4. Purity and Idealization

Milton idealizes his wife, portraying her as the epitome of purity and goodness. Her “vested all in white” appearance symbolizes her moral and spiritual perfection, while her “pure as her mind” nature reflects her inner virtue. This idealization aligns with his belief in her sanctified state, as reinforced by the biblical reference to purification. By describing her as a saintly figure, Milton elevates her memory, emphasizing her as a beacon of divine love and grace in his life.

1. How does Milton reconcile personal grief with his Christian faith?

Milton’s poem reflects a deep struggle to reconcile his personal loss with the consolations of Christian theology. He envisions his wife “vested all in white, pure as her mind,” symbolizing her spiritual sanctity and suggesting his belief in her salvation and eternal life. Yet, the poignant ending—“I wak’d, she fled, and day brought back my night”—reveals his ongoing sorrow, despite his faith in a heavenly reunion. This tension raises questions about the adequacy of spiritual solace in the face of profound earthly grief.

2. To what extent does the poem idealize the deceased wife?

Milton presents his wife as an almost saintly figure, describing her as “pure as her mind” and embodying “Love, sweetness, goodness.” Such descriptions elevate her beyond a realistic portrayal, emphasizing an idealized image that aligns with societal views of virtuous femininity. This idealization invites critical inquiry: does this portrayal reflect genuine admiration, or does it diminish her individuality by reducing her to an archetype of purity and virtue?

3. How does Milton use classical and religious allusions to frame his grief?

The poem draws on both classical mythology and Christian theology to contextualize Milton’s grief. The reference to Alcestis, “Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave,” evokes a miraculous resurrection, while the mention of “Purification in the old Law” ties her death to biblical rituals of cleansing and redemption. These allusions suggest Milton’s attempt to universalize his personal loss within a broader spiritual and cultural framework, but they also raise questions about whether these frameworks adequately address the emotional depth of his sorrow.

4. What role does the dream vision play in the structure and meaning of the poem?

The dream vision serves as both a narrative device and a psychological expression of Milton’s longing for his wife. Opening with “Me thought I saw my late espousèd Saint,” the poem immerses readers in a transient moment of imagined reunion. However, the dream’s fleeting nature—ending with “I wak’d, she fled”—underscores the impossibility of regaining what is lost. This raises questions about the limitations of dreams as a source of consolation and the broader implications of human desire for closure in the face of death.