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To His Coy Mistress By Andrew Marvell
Had we but world enough and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down, and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love’s day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the flood,
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires and more slow;
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found;
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long-preserved virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust;
The grave’s a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may,
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour
Than languish in his slow-chapped power.
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball,
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Through the iron gates of life:
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
General Introduction
To His Coy Mistress is a metaphysical poem by Andrew Marvell, a 17th-century English poet, politician, and satirist. Written in the 1650s during the Renaissance, the poem reflects the era’s preoccupation with themes of love, time, and human mortality. Marvell’s work is often characterized by its intellectual wit, metaphysical conceits, and use of complex imagery. To His Coy Mistress is a dramatic monologue that speaks to the carpe diem (seize the day) tradition, urging the speaker’s lover to embrace physical love before time runs out. The poem balances philosophical reflection with sensual passion, capturing the essence of human existence.
Title
The title To His Coy Mistress suggests the speaker is addressing a woman who is reserved or hesitant in love. The word "coy" indicates shyness or modesty, while "mistress" signifies a romantic or sexual partner. The title hints at the central theme of the poem: the speaker's attempt to persuade the mistress to abandon her reluctance and indulge in physical intimacy. It sets a tone of persuasion and flirtation, signaling the reader that the poem will explore the dynamics of desire and time.
Themes in To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell
To His Coy Mistress is a richly thematic poem that delves into the complexities of human experience. Marvell explores a range of interwoven themes, primarily focusing on love, time, mortality, and carpe diem (seizing the moment). Each theme serves to strengthen the speaker’s argument as he attempts to persuade his "coy mistress" to embrace physical intimacy before time runs out. Below is an elaborate exploration of the key themes in the poem:
1. The Transience of Time:
One of the central themes in To His Coy Mistress is the fleeting nature of time. The poem juxtaposes the speaker's idealized notion of eternal courtship with the harsh reality of limited human lifespan. Time is presented as an unstoppable force, symbolized by the "wingèd chariot hurrying near" (line 22), which is constantly approaching, propelling them toward death. This image creates a sense of urgency, as the speaker emphasizes that they cannot afford to waste time on coyness or hesitation.
The poem reflects the Renaissance fascination with the passage of time and its impact on human life. Marvell taps into the classical philosophical question of how to live fully in a world where time is always slipping away. He contrasts the ideal (having all the time in the world to appreciate his mistress) with the real (the inevitable approach of death), creating tension that drives the speaker’s argument.
2. Carpe Diem (Seize the Day):
Closely tied to the theme of time is the theme of carpe diem, or seizing the day. This is the speaker’s primary message to his mistress: that they should live fully and embrace pleasure while they still can. The speaker begins by imagining a world where they could afford to be patient, where he could lavish years of praise on her beauty without concern for time. However, he quickly shifts to a more urgent tone, arguing that time is running out and that they must act now: “Now let us sport us while we may” (line 37).
The carpe diem theme is a response to the inevitability of death. The speaker suggests that since time is fleeting and the future uncertain, they should take advantage of their youth and vitality while they can. This philosophy, typical of metaphysical poets, challenges the traditional idea of delayed gratification and instead promotes immediate pleasure, especially in love and sensuality.
3. Mortality and the Inevitability of Death:
The poem directly addresses the theme of mortality, reminding both the mistress and the reader of the inescapable reality of death. The speaker warns that her beauty will fade, and once she is in the "marble vault" (line 26) of the grave, it will no longer matter how coy or virtuous she has been. In death, her "quaint honour" and the speaker’s "lust" will both turn to dust (lines 29-30).
By invoking the imagery of the grave, Marvell underscores the inevitability of decay and the futility of earthly achievements or virtues in the face of death. The speaker’s message is clear: life is short, and death will render all their worldly concerns meaningless. Therefore, they should enjoy the pleasures of life while they still have the chance. This theme reflects the broader metaphysical preoccupation with the fragility of human existence.
4. The Relationship Between Love and Time:
In To His Coy Mistress, love is presented as something that is deeply affected by the constraints of time. The speaker’s idealized notion of love, where they would have infinite time to admire and adore each other, is contrasted with the reality of their limited time on earth. He imagines a love that could grow "vaster than empires and more slow" (line 12), but acknowledges that this is impossible given the speed with which time passes.
The relationship between love and time is further complicated by the poem’s underlying sexual urgency. While the speaker professes admiration for the mistress’s beauty and virtue, his real desire is for physical consummation before it is too late. Marvell suggests that romantic love, particularly in its physical form, is fleeting and must be enjoyed in the moment before time and death take their toll.
5. Beauty and Decay:
Marvell reflects on the transient nature of beauty and how it is ultimately subject to the ravages of time. The speaker dwells on the image of his mistress’s youthful beauty, comparing it to the morning dew, which is fresh but short-lived. He warns that if she does not act on her desires now, her beauty will fade, and eventually, she will "turn to dust" (line 30) like everything else in the world.
The imagery of decay is most vividly expressed in the lines about the grave, where worms will devour her "long-preserved virginity" (line 27). This stark image contrasts sharply with the earlier descriptions of her beauty, reinforcing the theme of impermanence and the idea that even the most cherished qualities, like beauty and virginity, will ultimately succumb to death and decay.
6. Sexual Desire and Persuasion:
At its core, To His Coy Mistress is a poem about sexual desire and the speaker’s attempt to persuade his mistress to yield to him. Throughout the poem, the speaker employs a range of persuasive techniques, from hyperbolic expressions of love to philosophical reflections on mortality, all aimed at convincing the mistress to abandon her coyness and embrace physical pleasure. His arguments are grounded in the carpe diem philosophy, suggesting that since life is short, they should enjoy their bodies while they are still young.
Sexual desire is intertwined with the theme of time, as the speaker emphasizes the urgency of their situation. He appeals to the mistress’s awareness of her own mortality, painting a grim picture of what awaits them after death if they do not act now. Marvell’s treatment of desire is both intellectual and sensual, blending metaphysical concerns with carnal passion.
7. The Conflict Between Idealism and Reality:
Another significant theme in To His Coy Mistress is the tension between idealism and reality. In the first part of the poem, the speaker presents an idealized vision of love, where he would have endless time to court and admire his mistress. This vision reflects the romantic ideal of slow, patient love. However, the speaker quickly dismisses this fantasy, acknowledging the reality of their finite existence and the inevitable approach of death.
This shift from idealism to realism underscores the speaker’s argument that they must seize the moment and enjoy their love while they still can. The poem suggests that while it is tempting to indulge in idealized notions of love and beauty, the harsh realities of time and mortality demand a more pragmatic approach to life and love.
To His Coy Mistress is a complex exploration of the human condition, addressing themes that remain relevant across centuries—time, mortality, love, beauty, and desire. Through its vivid imagery and intellectual argument, the poem presents a compelling case for seizing the moment and embracing the pleasures of life before they slip away. Marvell’s treatment of these themes reveals both a deep philosophical understanding of the transient nature of existence and an unabashed celebration of human passion. By blending the metaphysical with the sensual, To His Coy Mistress continues to resonate with readers as a powerful meditation on love, time, and the inevitability of death.
Literary Devices
1. Hyperbole:
The speaker uses hyperbole to emphasize the vastness of his love, suggesting it would grow "vaster than empires and more slow" and that he would spend "an age at least to every part" of her body. This exaggeration highlights the impossibility of having enough time for love, which contrasts with the poem’s underlying urgency.
2. Metaphor:
Time is metaphorically presented as a "wingèd chariot hurrying near" (line 22), symbolizing the inevitable passage of time and death. This image of time pursuing the speaker and his lover gives the poem a sense of urgency, underscoring the carpe diem theme.
3. Personification:
Time is personified as a force that hurries and chases them, as seen in the chariot metaphor. Death, in turn, is associated with a "marble vault" where worms take over the lover’s virginity (lines 25-27). This grim personification emphasizes the consequences of delaying love.
4. Irony:
The line "The grave’s a fine and private place, / But none, I think, do there embrace" (lines 31-32) employs irony. While the speaker acknowledges the grave as peaceful, he ironically notes that death robs lovers of physical connection, reinforcing his argument for urgency in love.
5. Simile:
The phrase "while the youthful hue / Sits on thy skin like morning dew" (lines 33-34) compares youth to the freshness of morning dew. The simile evokes a fleeting, delicate image of beauty and youth that fades quickly, aligning with the theme of impermanence.
6. Allusion:
Marvell references Biblical and historical events, such as "the Flood" and "the conversion of the Jews" (lines 8-10), suggesting the impossibility of waiting forever. These allusions deepen the speaker's argument, blending religious and temporal dimensions into the persuasion.
Language and Diction
Marvell's diction is a mixture of intellectual and sensual language. Words like "coy," "vegetable love," "vast eternity," and "quaint honour" contrast with more direct, earthy language such as "devour," "rough strife," and "amorous birds of prey." The use of such vivid diction conveys both the speaker’s playful and philosophical sides. The term "vegetable love" is especially intriguing; it evokes an image of slow, organic growth, contrasting with the urgency of his plea later in the poem. His formal, elevated language gives the argument a weighty seriousness, but the sensual undertones signal his passionate desires.
Mood and Tone
The mood of the poem shifts between reflective and passionate. In the beginning, the speaker adopts a contemplative tone, imagining a world with infinite time where he could admire his mistress's beauty at leisure. However, as the poem progresses, the mood becomes more urgent and insistent, reflecting the pressure of time and mortality. The tone alternates between flirtatious and philosophical, with the speaker's playful seduction masking deeper existential concerns about the brevity of life.
Context
To His Coy Mistress was written during the mid-17th century, a period marked by political upheaval in England and philosophical debates about life, love, and mortality. The metaphysical poets, including Marvell, John Donne, and George Herbert, often combined intellectual wit with sensual and spiritual themes. In this poem, the carpe diem motif reflects the Renaissance fascination with seizing pleasure before the inevitability of death. The poem's speaker, much like Marvell himself, is caught between a love for life and a sober awareness of its limitations, a characteristic tension in metaphysical poetry.
Conclusion
To His Coy Mistress is a masterful exploration of the tension between love and time, desire and mortality. Through its rich use of literary devices, particularly hyperbole, metaphor, and irony, the poem illustrates the fleeting nature of life and the importance of seizing the moment. The speaker’s persuasive monologue reflects a deeper metaphysical concern with the human condition, revealing not just a plea for physical intimacy but a profound reflection on life’s impermanence. The poem's enduring relevance lies in its ability to capture the urgency of living fully in the face of inevitable mortality.
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