Time passes. Its journey is oblivious to power, weakness, beauty, or mercy. The nature of time itself lies in its unrelenting progression through life, until we are removed from it's favor and then wither and die. The purpose of most carpe diem poetry is to draw a character's attention (usually the female) to the pressing nature of time's progress, as well as illustrating the bountiful rewards of seizing the moment and giving into the momentary passions of life. Andrew Marvell's poem "To His Coy Mistress" is a classic example of carpe diem poetry, exemplifying the foreboding nature of time. It's distinction from similar works, however, lies in its inherent ability to express the ominous nature of time's advancement in terms of both the male and female's perspectives. Rather than lament about missed opportunities, "To His Coy Mistress" actually serves to force one to consider how we compartmentalize time into stages of life, and thus commit ourselves to its mercy without allowing ourselves to relish its immediate rewards. Marvell's sense of time affects both his characters in unique ways, and therefore unites their plight as a human cause rather t

The second part of "To His Coy Mistress" seeks to impart a sense of urgency in the speaker. Immediately the poem reads "But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near" (21-22), implying a sense of time's imposing presence in the speaker's sense. He continues with "And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity" (23-24). Such commentary seems permeated with a common sense of weighted urgency, indicating that time's will equally affects both partners. He begins to state "Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor in thy marble vault shall sound My echoing song" (25-27). Rather than attempting to frighten his mistress, the mood created by such lines directs the focus toward the impartial nature of death, and the sorrowful concept of love lost. The stanza is summed up by relating that "The grave's a fine and private place, But none, I think, do there embrace." The tone here clearly elevates the nature of time's passing into a common issue, uniting the lovers against a mutual enemy. The fear that the speaker imparts implies mortality, rather than the loss of mere physical conquest. The sad outcome of such a loss speaks more to a sense of embracing life, rather than to conform to social rules and regulations. These rules, in accordance with the author's tone, deny humanity the euphoric sense of immediate pleasure, and simple happiness. Marvell uses such ideology to suggest a unique sense of carpe diem philosophy. The conception is a more pointed outlook at our society, and at how we might harbor regrets about our personal conformity in our latter years. Such regret is no

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Approximate Word count = 1075
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)