Discuss Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress is a Carpe Diem poem

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