Discuss Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress is a Carpe Diem poem
To His Coy Mistress is a notable literary work by Andrew Marvell. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of To His Coy Mistress.
Answer
Discuss Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” is a ‘carpe diem’ poem.
Andrew Marvell’s (1621-1678) “To His Coy Mistress,” published posthumously in 1681, is a classic example of a carpe diem poem. The phrase “carpe diem” comes from Latin and means “seize the day.” Such poems encourage living life to the fullest because time is short and life is fleeting. In this poem, Marvell uses vivid imagery, persuasive arguments, and metaphysical conceits to convince his “coy mistress” to enjoy life and love while they are still young.
The Ideal World of Unlimited Time: In the poem, the speaker urges his lover to make the most of their time by having sex and not waiting for death. The poem’s speaker argues that they don’t have “world enough and time” to waste. The speaker begins the poem by imagining an ideal world where they have unlimited time for love. He says,
“Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.”
This means that if they had endless time, her coyness (shyness or reluctance) would not matter. He imagines a slow and luxurious love that would take thousands of years to unfold.
Fleeting Time and Mortality: However, the speaker quickly shifts his tone in the second stanza. He introduces the reality of time and death. He says,
“But at my back I always hear
Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near.”
This powerful metaphor represents time as a relentless force that is chasing them. The speaker warns that if they wait too long, death will come, and all opportunities for love and pleasure will be lost. He even uses morbid imagery to convince his beloved to have sex. The speaker, says,
“Then worms shall try
That long-preserved virginity.”
This shocking line reminds the mistress that her beauty and purity will mean nothing in the grave.
The Urgency to Seize the Moment: The final stanza provides the solution to this problem of limited time. The speaker urges his beloved they seize the day/opportunity and make the most of their youth. The speaker urges his mistress to act now, saying,
“Now let us sport us while we may,
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour.”
This comparison to birds of prey shows the passion and urgency of his plea. The speaker believes that by living fully and embracing love, they can defy time’s control. He concludes that while they cannot stop time, they can make the most of it by living with passion and energy.
Carpe Diem Philosophy: Throughout the poem, Marvell blends romantic and sensual language with vivid imagery of time and mortality. The speaker’s argument reflects the carpe diem theme: time is short, so it is essential to embrace life’s pleasures now. The poem reminds us that youth and beauty are temporary, and waiting too long can lead to missed opportunities.
In conclusion, Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” is a brilliant carpe diem poem. It combines vivid imagery, persuasive arguments, and the theme of seizing the moment. By urging the mistress to act before it is too late, the speaker captures the essence of the carpe diem philosophy: live for today, because tomorrow is uncertain.