Analysis of "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell, a prominent 17th-century poet (1621-1678), crafted "To His Coy Mistress" as a persuasive argument for romantic and physical intimacy. This metaphysical poem is structured in three parts, using rhyming couplets to present a logical case for seizing the moment in love.
The poem opens with a hypothetical scenario, imagining if the lovers had "World enough, and Time." Marvell employs hyperbole and biblical references to emphasize the vastness of time, suggesting they could spend centuries courting:
Quote: "Had we but World enough, and Time, / This coyness Lady were no crime."
Vocabulary: Coyness - shyness or modesty, often feigned in this context
The speaker playfully exaggerates, claiming he would love her "ten years before the Flood" and she could refuse "Till the Conversion of the Jews." This humorous overstatement sets up the contrast with reality.
Example: The mention of the Indian Ganges and the Humber river illustrates the global scale of their hypothetical courtship.
Marvell's use of the term "vegetable Love" is a prime example of metaphysical conceit, comparing the slow growth of plants to the gradual development of their love:
Definition: Metaphysical conceit - an elaborate and often surprising comparison between two dissimilar things
The poem then shifts tone dramatically, introducing the concept of mortality:
Quote: "But at my back I alwaies hear / Times winged Charriot hurrying near"
This vivid imagery of time as a chariot emphasizes the urgency of their situation. The speaker warns that death will end all possibility of love, using stark imagery of worms and dust.
Highlight: The phrase "Desarts of vast Eternity" powerfully conveys the emptiness of death and the importance of living fully in the present.
The final section urges action, comparing the lovers to "am'rous birds of prey" and encouraging them to "roll all our Strength, and all / Our sweetness, up into one Ball." This sensual imagery culminates in the famous lines:
Quote: "Thus, though we cannot make our Sun / Stand still, yet we will make him run."
This clever conclusion ties together the themes of time, passion, and defiance against mortality, making "To His Coy Mistress" one of Andrew Marvell's most famous poems and a quintessential example of metaphysical poetry.
