To His Coy Mistress

4 Pages 911 Words

Love spans horizons, but empires span centuries. In Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”, the speaker uses the fourteenth century poetic mode of patriarchal convention to emphasis the themes of insult and irrationality. The themes are communicated through various forms of figurative language, different types of poetic form, and subconscious propaganda that is emitted from the carpe diem tradition. Further observations into the speaker’s method of courtship reveals attributes of manipulative behavior.















Love spans horizons, but empires span centuries. In Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”, the speaker uses the fourteenth century poetic mode of patriarchal convention to emphasis the themes of insult and irrationality. The themes are communicated through various forms of figurative language, different types of poetic form, and subconscious propaganda that is emitted from the carpe diem tradition. Further observations into the speaker’s method of courtship reveals attributes of manipulative behavior.

The speaker’s verbal artistry is a compelling drama that envisions no shame, showing how can a man fill a woman’s heart with empty promises and concepts and still walk proudly “through the iron gates of life” (line 44). The speaker’s intentions are obvious to the reader; sex today and love tomorrow. Various forms of figurative language such as allegories, similes, symbolism, and metaphors represent the intentions of the speaker. Allegorical images of walking by “the Indian Ganges’ side” (5) while waiting “two hundred years to adore each breast” (15) are logically impossible considering the time period’s difficulty with travel and health. The use of simile contradicts the speakers own concept of forever lasting love when he offers his lady to act “like amorous birds of prey” (38) and act upon primal instincts, which is suggestive of participating in savage lust. What...