Question

What guides human souls towards divinity? Who is the final winner in the race against Time?

Answer 1

In this poem. John Milton has thwarted the common conception of Time as moving too fast or too slowly, according to the individual’s perception. Time is perceived as an intangible entity that rules the lives of mortals but actually, it is just in the mind of the individual, but not imagined. Time is a recognized force that drives a person’s lifespan forward, bringing inevitable change in every passing moment but they should not be affected by its influence. Time's wrath can only affect a person's life as long as he or she is alive, therefore its power is limited.

Milton explains that we must realize that there is only one destination in the race against Time, i.e. Death. Time devours everything in our lifetime but it too must come to an end like everything else in the universe. Time's power ends when the human soul is released from its earthly abode and is guided by Death, to the realm of the divine, where eternal bliss is waiting, along with the joyful union with the Creator. Humans must, therefore, celebrate every moment of their life because, in the race against the “glut” and “greed” of Time, they will be the true victors.