Coy Seduction - Andrew Marvell

A detailed Summary of Coy Seduction - Andrew Marvell

"To His Coy Mistress" is a poem of seduction written by Andrew Marvell in 1641. A more fitting title may have been "To Coy His Mistress." The language used needs a bit of deciphering in this day and age, but the meaning is well focused. Marvell uses the concerns of time constantly to try and create a convincing effect to get his way with his mistress. In the three verses of the poem, Marvell goes from his impression of the past into the death-defying future in order to convey the need for action in the present. The pattern of Marvell's poem is roughly this: If there were enough time, the speaker would continue on courting his mistress forever, but time is disappearing fast. So they must take advantage of the moments they currently have and express their love for one another before death comes to claim them; there is no time to be coy.

Had the speaker "but world enough and time", he would seduce and flirt with his mistress forever (1). This fantasy world Marvell creates treats time like a slow waltz in which the speaker admits his love for the mistress for eons and takes his time in admiring each portion of her body for a long number of years. But then, as if predicting the importance of the next sect

Marvell's poem unique is the careful blend of time and seduction. Time drifts over the first section in its slow counting of the years that are available for people to express their love. Time threateningly enters into the second verse, patiently reminding that those who put off their joy in love will have no joy at all. Time then moves into the present tense, providing the power of the current moment, the only time lovers can fully express their love for each other. Marvell makes the idea of eternity seem more touchable so that when that time is swept away, the substitute seems all the more frightening. It is this fear that Marvell generates within us to take advantage of what is open to us and "seize the day".

Time is used to highlight the importance of acting now. What makes

Marvell, Andrew. "To Coy his Mistress." Exploring Literature. Frank Madden. New York: Longman, 2001. 574-575.

In closing, "To coy his Mistress" in my opinion is a great poem of love and commitment. The pressure on the mistress would not be acceptable in our world today but the commitment and patience should be welcomed. The speaker genuinely feels that if he and his mistress are not together now, it may never happen. The speaker is willing to wait but, for some reason, time is running short. The author's thoughts were certainly ahead of his tim

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Approximate Word count = 906
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Coy Seduction - Andrew Marvell

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