Analysis of Milton, Soto, and Kolvenbach

 Ainsley Jodlbauer

To work for something takes passions and determination, which not every individual has. The three works read, each with a different author (Milton, Soto, and Kolvenbach) all possess a similar theme: work. However, each piece does this in very different ways, yet all connecting and sharing similarities. 

Milton’s piece, “When I consider how I spent my life”, tells the story of a man who has been blinded, but despite his set back he continues to thrive forward in working hard in life for God. The author's overall purpose of the short work is to explain that setbacks don’t mean that quitting is the right option. We see this similar outlook on life in Soto’s piece, “A Red Palm”. He tells a story about a man who puts all his effort into work each day in order to support his wife and children. In the middle of the writing, we see that the man thinks back on his failure in school, and how if he had done better life might be easier. His lack of success with school has driven him to try harder; wanting to give his best efforts to show his family the love he holds for them. Finally, in the third work “The Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice in American Jesuit Higher Education” by Kolvenbach we see the push on Jesuits to work hard in life to obtain what they wish to have when it comes to their relationship with God. 

Another piece that I found interesting among the three works was the point made in Kolvenbach’s piece that holds true to the other two. A point Kolvenbach pushes on his audience is that they need to make a choice in life, whether to continue on or just give in to life now. While the works of Milton and Soto don’t outright say this the reader is able to connect this underlying intent to their two works as well. In both works, the main character stops to think about his situation and ponders on whether throwing in the towel is the right option. They are forced to make a decision then and there before moving forward.

All three works were well written and took time and careful reading to gain a full understanding of what was to be taken away from their words. Throughout life everyone will come to countless points where they have to stop and make a decision before continuing forward, and these simply show what others have faced and overcome. 

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