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Words on "To His Coy Mistress"



Either you have sex with me or you die. This is a very strong

statement which, when said, has to get someone's attention; and that is exactly

what Andrew Marvell intends for the reader in this poem. He wants the undivided

attention of this mistress so that he can scare her and rush her into making a

decision the way he wants and in due time. Filled with time flavored symbolism,

this carpe diem poem, "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell, exemplifies the

seize the day theme.

The cyclical, life symbolizing river, the water flowing by like time, is

the first place Marvell places the characters. And even though they are very

far apart, time still flows by for them both. As the water flows, this concept

begins to hint at the shortness of time, for them to have sex, the source of new

life. He then proceeds to claim that he could love her ten years before the

flood, something already ancient, and up to the end of the world, using the

juxtapositioning of the two views of time enhance his argument and to convince

to accept his offer by telling her of his long-term commitment for her in the

short-term. This flood also symbolizes life in the fresh start of the new

covenant. Because time keeps going, with or without them, they must be active

participants and not just the static spectator. Otherwise, the fate Marvell

relates would become their reality.

Marvell's vegetable love is rather oxymoronic. Love is not normally

like the uncaring, thoughtless, and noncommunicating plant. And yet his love is

vegetable in that it is not adaptable. She is the water, food, and light for

his love; and as long as she is there, he will love her....