Mini-Essay: "To His Coy Mistress"

In the poem "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell, written in the early 1650s, a man attempts to persuade a young woman to engage in a physical relationship with him. The man's argument is supported with a blanketing statement of "carpe diem" or "seize the day." Through this process, the narrator emphasizes the woman's superficial qualities such as: beauty and youth, while he neglects to accentuate the woman's personality and emotions. The importance given to the transient, physical traits of the woman manifest themselves in Marvell's diction. "For, lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate." (Line 19,20). The narrator's shallow attitude toward the relationship between man and woman is clear. The only goal the man exhibits is his undying lust for a young, beautiful woman. No depth in relationship is expressed through his persuasion. Rather than enforcing an emotional connection with this woman, the narrator is concentrating on the loss of a youthful physicality. Also, the narrator is placing the brunt of his argument on the idea of his romantic necessities rather than that of the woman. Overall, the speaker of the poem does not take into account a deep approach to a relationship, however, adds an unnecessary importance to the woman's beauty.