To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell Essay

Introduction

"To His Coy Mistress" is a poem written by Andrew Marvell in the 17th century. It is a persuasive argument in which the speaker tries to convince his mistress to embrace the idea of carpe diem, or "seize the day," and engage in a physical relationship with him. The poem is structured as a series of three arguments, each of which becomes progressively more urgent as the speaker tries to convince his mistress to abandon her coyness and give in to her desire. "To His Coy Mistress" is well-known for its use of figurative language and its exploration of themes such as time, mortality, and desire.

The First Argument: Time and Mortality

In the first argument, the speaker acknowledges that if they had "world enough, and time," it would be appropriate for his mistress to be coy and take their time in developing their love. The speaker imagines a scenario in which they could sit down and think about how to spend their "long love's day," with the mistress finding rubies by the Ganges and the speaker complaining by the tide of the Humber. The speaker declares that he would love the mistress for ten years before the flood and that she could refuse him until the conversion of the Jews if she so pleased. The speaker even suggests that his love for her could grow "vaster than empires, and more slow," with an age devoted to praising each part of her body.

However, the speaker points out that time is limited, and that the "winged chariot" of time is always approaching, reminding them of their own mortality. The speaker says that "yonder all before us lie / Deserts of vast eternity," suggesting that death and the passage of time will erase all physical beauty and pleasure. The speaker argues that because time is running out, they should seize the opportunity to enjoy each other's company while they still can.

The Second Argument: Desire and Pleasure

In the second argument, the speaker appeals to his mistress's desire and argues that it is natural and necessary to fulfill their desires while they still can. The speaker compares their desire to "amorous birds of prey," suggesting that it is powerful and cannot be denied. The speaker says that their "youthful hue" and "willing soul" are signs of their desire and vitality, and that they should "sport" and "devour" their time together while they still can.

The speaker suggests that it is better to fully enjoy their pleasures rather than "languish" in the power of time. The speaker uses the metaphor of a "ball" to describe the idea of rolling up their strength and sweetness into a single, unified experience. The speaker says that they should "tear" their pleasures "through the iron gates of life," suggesting that they should embrace their desires with determination and passion.

The Third Argument: The Futility of Virginity

In the third argument, the speaker appeals to the idea that virginity is ultimately meaningless and will not be valued in the future. The speaker argues that after death, the mistress's "quaint honor" will "turn to dust" and her "long-preserved virginity" will be consumed by worms. The speaker suggests that it is better to enjoy physical pleasure while they can, rather than saving it for an uncertain future.

The speaker uses the metaphor of a "marble vault" to describe the idea of preserving virginity, suggesting that it is a cold and lifeless place. The speaker says that after death, there will be no more beauty or pleasure to be found, and that the mistress's "beauteous and youthful" body will be reduced to a "death-cold tomb." The speaker suggests that it is better to enjoy physical pleasure while they are alive, rather than saving it for an uncertain future.

Analysis

"To His Coy Mistress" is a powerful and influential poem that has been widely studied and discussed for its themes and its use of figurative language. One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which the speaker uses various arguments to try to convince his mistress to give in to her desire and embrace the idea of carpe diem.

The first argument appeals to the idea of time and mortality, pointing out that time is limited and that death is inevitable. The speaker suggests that because time is running out, they should seize the opportunity to enjoy each other's company while they still can. This argument is effective because it appeals to a universal fear of mortality and the desire to make the most of one's time on earth.

The second argument appeals to the idea of desire and pleasure, suggesting that it is natural and necessary to fulfill one's desires while they still can. The speaker uses vivid and sensual imagery to describe the idea of enjoying their time together, comparing their desire to "amorous birds of prey" and urging them to "sport" and "devour" their time together. This argument is effective because it appeals to the universal desire for pleasure and happiness.

The third argument appeals to the idea of the futility of virginity, suggesting that it is ultimately meaningless and will not be valued in the future. The speaker uses metaphor and imagery to describe the idea of preserving virginity, comparing it to a "marble vault" and suggesting that it will be consumed by worms after death. This argument is effective because it challenges traditional ideas about virginity and encourages the mistress to embrace the idea of physical pleasure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "To His Coy Mistress" is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the themes of time, mortality, and desire. The speaker uses a series of arguments to try to convince his mistress to abandon her coyness and embrace the idea of carpe diem, using vivid imagery and figurative language to make his case. The poem continues to be widely studied and admired for its themes and its use of language.