TO HIS COY MISTRESS - ANDREW MARVEL

As regarding this task I’m going to analyze the text “To his coy mistress” written by Andrew Marvell from line 21 to line 46.

The poet uses rhyming couplets to continue his text. He keeps on telling us that time is not enough and, as a consequence, the lady’s coyness is a crime. He uses the verb “to hear” rather than “to listen” to underline that this action is not decided by him but it is natural.

Furthermore he uses a classical reference to refer to the passing of time. (“Time’s winged chariot”). The reader should notice that in these lines the poet didn’t use a rhyming couplet to highlight the concept of the passing of time.

He carries on explaining what is expecting them by using an oxymoron which is “vast eternity”.

In the following line the poet goes on contemplating his Lady’s beauty.

By using a rhyming couplet, the poet says that his lady’s beauty will not be found since she will be buried in a “marble vault”. He uses the word marble in order to magnify his lady.

In the following lines, the speaking voice wants to blame his lady’s coyness by saying that her virginity will turn into dust and worms will destroy her virtue. In these lines the poet doesn’t use rhyming couplet to draw the reader’s attention on the fact that his lady’s coyness is useless. Since her body will be destroyed, the poet’s lust will disappear as well.

In these lines the poet remarks that his lady’s coyness is useless since time doesn’t last forever. The speaking voice continues his text using an ironic tone to highlight that his lady’s attitude is damning since in the grave anybody can embrace. The speaking voice starts the new line with the word “Now” which is meaningful to his description. As a matter of fact he wants to stress that at that moment they have already time to enjoy their lust.

By using a rhyming couplets in the following lines the speaking voice wants to remark that since they are still young and time doesn’t last forever, this is the time to consume sexual relationships.

He uses the word “bird” to focus on the concept of freedom which means that they have the possibility to consume their love if the lady will leave his coyness.

In the following lines the speaking voice concentrate on lust and this fact is highlighted by the lack of a rhyming couplet. At the end of the text he makes reference to the sun. He says that since they cannot stop the passing of time they will make him run. By using this expression he wants to highlight the fact that they will enjoy their time together so that time will seem to go faster.