To His Coy Mistress
The poems "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell and "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick exemplify youth, modesty and resistance. The topic of both poems indicates the negative consequences that can occur if one is hesitant to enjoy his or her youth; furthermore, each author expresses in words how youth is the prime of ones life, and only lasts for a small amount of time. Each piece differentiates in certain ways, while certain qualities are shared. Some ways in which these poems compare and contrast are the speaker, the tone and particular symbols. The authors write similarly due to the fact that they existed during the time era of the 1600 's, yet their writing differs in style. "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell depicts the woman of his interest as someone of rare beauty, modesty and honor. Marvell makes it quite obvious that she is a virgin, not because of his statement, but because he is so desperate to explore intimate wonders with her. In the beginning of his poem, he writes how her modesty would benefit if time was not an issue. Later he begins to marvel on how his mannerisms would be otherwise if aging and death would cease to exist. Approximately halfway through the poem he evokes passion, desire and aggressiveness with fierce words in order to persuade
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his mistress to give in to temptation and pleasure. At the end of his piece, he states how time is in issue, and how they should react to this phenomenon. In the second piece, "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick, the author again announces how time is indeed an issue, and addresses his audience that one should enjoy his or her youthfulness. Herrick instructs those of young age to ignore resistance of pleasure and tradition. He elaborates on why youth is the best time of ones life, and how fate will turn out as an end result. Assuring the reader that death and old age is inevitable, it is rather intelligent to use time wisely by fulfilling
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his mistress to give in to temptation and pleasure. At the end of his piece, he states how time is in issue, and how they should react to this phenomenon. In the second piece, "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick, the author again announces how time is indeed an issue, and addresses his audience that one should enjoy his or her youthfulness. Herrick instructs those of young age to ignore resistance of pleasure and tradition. He elaborates on why youth is the best time of ones life, and how fate will turn out as an end result. Assuring the reader that death and old age is inevitable, it is rather intelligent to use time wisely by fulfilling
Cited: Herrick, Robert. "To The Virgins, To Make Much of Time." Literature: An Introduction To Fiction, Poetry and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 4th Compact ed. New York: Longman, 2005. 1451. Marvell, Andrew. "To His Coy Mistress." Literature: An Introduction To Fiction, Poetry and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 4th Compact ed. New York: Longman, 2005. 1451.