In Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress the poem's speaker attempts to persuade "his coy
mistress" to have sex with him. As “he is aware of his imminent death as he is of hers” he
wants his desire to be fulfilled here and now. Thus I introduce my thesis as follows: Andrew
Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress argues that, in a world where death rules supreme and time is
limited, life’s true meaning and purpose can only be found in physical (i.e. sexual) pleasure.
My thesis is based on the analysis of the three sections which complete a logical
argumentative pattern (“Had we . . .”, “But . . .”, “Now therefore . . .”)
In the first section (l. 1- l. 20) the speaker tells his mistress what they could achieve in their
relationship if they had time. It is a very traditional and religious view of love.
However, the subjunctive and conditional structures in the first section indicate: They
do not have time. The coyness of the Lady is a crime. The result of these two points is that the
speaker is not interested in spiritual or romantic but just in physical, sexual love immediately.
This “false vision of history-as-courtship”, “false vision of endless time and endless
courtship” is shown in a satirical, cynical and ironic way. Marvell uses a lot of allusions to
the bible illustrating the huge dimensions of “world enough and time” (l. 1). The image of
“world enough” (l. 1) is shown by the “Indian Ganges” (l. 5), an exotic country which is far
away from the “Humber” (l. 7) in England .
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Section One (Lines 1-20)
- Section Two (Lines 21-32)
- Section Three (Lines 33-46)
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this analysis is to explore Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" and argue that the poem's central theme revolves around the importance of physical pleasure in a world dominated by death and limited time. This interpretation is supported by a close reading of the poem's three distinct sections.
- The fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death
- The contrast between idealized, leisurely love and the urgency of the present moment
- The speaker's persuasive techniques and use of imagery to achieve his goal
- The poem's exploration of carpe diem and its implications
- The use of irony and satire to convey the poem's meaning
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction presents the central thesis: Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" argues that life's true meaning, given the limitations of time and the inevitability of death, resides in the pursuit of physical pleasure. The analysis will focus on the three sections of the poem, examining how they build a logical argumentative structure to support this thesis.
Section One (Lines 1-20): This section presents a hypothetical scenario where the speaker and his mistress have unlimited time. It showcases a traditional, almost religious view of love, employing subjunctive and conditional structures to ironically highlight the lack of time they actually possess. The speaker's focus shifts from spiritual or romantic love to an immediate desire for physical, sexual gratification. Marvell employs biblical allusions and extended metaphors, such as the "Indian Ganges" and the "Flood," to satirically represent the vastness of time, ultimately subverting these images to emphasize the urgency of the speaker's sexual desire. The metaphor of "vegetable" soul subtly introduces the theme of growth and propagation, further linking the speaker's desire to biological urges.
Section Two (Lines 21-32): A stark contrast to the first section, this part depicts the reality of mortality and limited time. The "memento mori" theme is prominent, with images like "time's winged chariot" and "deserts of vast eternity" evoking fear and urgency. The speaker vividly portrays the decay of the mistress's body after death, using grotesque imagery of worms consuming her virginity to shock her into abandoning her coyness. The ambiguity of "quaint honor" and the juxtaposition of "lust" and "dust" reinforce the transient nature of beauty and the inevitability of physical decomposition, thereby further highlighting the importance of seizing the present moment for sexual gratification. The macabre description of the grave as a "fine and private place" ironically underscores the impossibility of sexual union in death.
Section Three (Lines 33-46): This concluding section embodies the "carpe diem" theme. The repeated use of "now" emphasizes the urgency of immediate action. The imagery shifts from the previous morbid descriptions to a more vibrant and active portrayal of lovemaking. The "youthful hue" metaphor, possibly interpreted as "dew," represents the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, further reinforcing the need for immediate consummation. The speaker's shift from addressing the mistress with "thy" to a unifying "us," "our," and "we" signifies a shared commitment to seizing the moment. The simile of "amorous birds of prey" suggests a passionate and active pursuit of pleasure, highlighting the dynamism and bestial sensuality of their immediate gratification. The final image of "one ball," related to a classical allusion to Plato, symbolizes the unity and perfection sought in their sexual union.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Carpe diem, death, time, physical pleasure, sexual desire, irony, satire, biblical allusions, classical allusions, memento mori, persuasion, coyness, urgency, imagery, metaphor, Renaissance, Marvell, To His Coy Mistress.
Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress": A Comprehensive Analysis - FAQ
What is the main objective of this analysis of Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"?
The primary objective is to explore the poem and argue that its central theme revolves around the importance of physical pleasure in the face of death and limited time. This interpretation is supported by a close reading of the poem's three sections.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of "To His Coy Mistress"?
Key themes include the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death; the contrast between idealized love and the urgency of the present moment; the speaker's persuasive techniques and use of imagery; the poem's exploration of carpe diem; and the use of irony and satire.
How is the poem's argument structured?
The analysis focuses on the three distinct sections of the poem, demonstrating how they build a logical argumentative structure to support the central thesis of the importance of physical pleasure given the limitations of time and death.
What is discussed in Section One (Lines 1-20) of the analysis?
This section presents a hypothetical scenario of unlimited time, ironically contrasting it with the reality of limited time. It explores traditional views of love and shifts to focus on immediate physical desire, using biblical allusions and extended metaphors (like the "Indian Ganges" and "Flood") satirically to emphasize the urgency of the speaker's desire.
What is the focus of Section Two (Lines 21-32)?
Section Two presents the reality of mortality and limited time. The "memento mori" theme is central, using imagery of decay and death to shock the mistress into abandoning her coyness and embracing immediate physical gratification. The transient nature of beauty and the inevitability of decomposition are highlighted.
What is the main point of Section Three (Lines 33-46)?
The concluding section embodies the "carpe diem" theme, emphasizing urgency with repeated use of "now." Imagery shifts to a vibrant portrayal of lovemaking. The shift in pronouns from "thy" to "us," "our," and "we" signifies a shared commitment to seizing the moment. The final image symbolizes unity and perfection in their sexual union.
What are the key literary devices used in the poem according to the analysis?
The analysis highlights the use of irony, satire, biblical and classical allusions, metaphors, and imagery to convey the poem's meaning and support its argument.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis of "To His Coy Mistress"?
Keywords include: Carpe diem, death, time, physical pleasure, sexual desire, irony, satire, biblical allusions, classical allusions, memento mori, persuasion, coyness, urgency, imagery, metaphor, Renaissance, Marvell, To His Coy Mistress.
What is the overall interpretation of "To His Coy Mistress" presented in this analysis?
The analysis argues that Marvell's poem champions the pursuit of physical pleasure as life's true meaning, given the constraints of time and the inevitability of death. The poem uses persuasive techniques and vivid imagery to convey this message.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Keilbach (Author), 2003, Love in 'To His Coy Mistress', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/118456
