Critical Appreciation of To His Coy Mistress or a Metaphysical Poem

Critical Appreciation of To His Coy Mistress or a Metaphysical Poem

 ‘To His Coy Mistress’ is one of the best love poems of Andrew Marvell (1621–1678), a Metaphysical poet. The poem is written within the sort of the design of construction of a poem named ‘syllogism’ including three sections beginning with ‘if’, ‘but’ and ‘therefore’. In this poem, the speaker raises arguments together with his beloved to be soft towards him and to relax her firm attitude of puritan reluctance to grant him sexual favors. Thus the theme of the poem is ‘carpe diem’, meaning ‘seize the opportunity’, the complete Latin sentence of which is “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula poster”, that is, “Enjoy this day, trusting the smallest amount possible to the longer term. 

Marvell, being a metaphysical poet, has applied within the poem variety of metaphysical conceits and mighty imagery. However, there's also slightly of wit and irony. Moreover, the poem draws a high concentration from the reader and there's an epigrammatic quality. Now, allow us to analyze the poem intimately. The poet begins the primary section of the poem with a fantastic, impossible condition,

"Had we but world enough, and time

This coyness lady were no crime”

That is if they had enough space and time, the ‘coyness’ or sexual reluctance of his beloved would haven't any fault with him. Next, he says that if that they had enough space and time they might have enough time to ‘sit down’ ‘to walk’ and to pass their ‘long loves day’, the woman could find Rubies by the side of ‘Indian Ganges’ while the poet would complain of his unfulfilled love on the banks of the river ‘Humber’ in England; he would begin his lovemaking ten years before the traditional ‘Flood’ occurring probably within the year 2354 B.C, and therefore the refusal of the woman might be granted/endured ‘till the Conversion of the Jews’ when all the Jews would be converted into Christianity. that's the speaker / the lover could wait an extended time for the beloved till she would address him.

If that they had enough time, he would spend a hundred years to praise her eyes and to graze on her forehead; 2 hundred years to admire each of her breasts, and thirty thousand years to praise the remaining parts of the body. Actually, she, the lover says, deserves such praise and adoration. But, the speaker says, all of the previous conditions are impossible due to the time’s very first place. He says,

 “At my back I always hear

 Times winged chariot hurrying near;

 And yonder all before us lye

 Deserts of vast Eternity”

He further says that her beauty will decay soon; she, will dwell in her tomb; and his “echoing, Song’ won't be heard any longer . Even “worms shall try that long preserved Virginity”; her nice sense of honor will ‘turn to dust’ while his lust to make love will turn to ashes. Indeed none wants to embrace the Grave’s ‘fine and private place.’

Now, therefore, the speaker draws a conclusion, it is the time for them to enjoy the full pleasures of love when there is still a time when every part of her body ‘transpires’ ‘instant Fires’. The speaker invites the beloved to ‘sport’ ‘like amorous birds of prey; - to extract the fullest intensity of sexual enjoyment – rather than to ‘Languish in his [times] slow- chapt power’.

In this way, though they cannot make the passage of time, stand still, they can at least, fasten its speed by enjoying as much pleasure as possible.

However, if we Critically Appreciate the above discussion- we find that the poet presents the poem in such a well–organized way that any lady can hardly deny his sexual proposal. The first section provides a condition and the way the speaker would do ‘if’ the condition is fulfilled. ‘But’ the second section clearly expresses the truth opposing the primary condition ‘Therefore’, the speaker, within the last section, eagerly seeks for an alternative to the impossible condition.

Moreover, another important thing for this Metaphysical poem is its biblical analogy, referring to the story of Noah as narrated in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis. It presents one of the earliest major incidents in the Bible. The narrator's statement that he could begin to love his mistress ten years before that flood places. This functions as hyperbole to indicate the depth and duration of love he professes to his coy mistress. In narrator’s Speech-

"I would

Love you ten years before the flood."

Again, another important thing for the poem is its secular theme, carpe diem as we mentioned earlier. The invitation of the speaker to the beloved ‘to sport’ ‘like amorous birds of prey’ is no doubt a direct sexual implication having secular influence.

Yet again, the role of time and fate in our life also takes an area during this poem ‘Times winged chariot hurrying near’ portrays time’s spades continuousness while “Worms shall try that long preserved Virginity” exposes the naked inevitableness in out life with an attack to the rigidness of Puritanism and with slightly of sexual implication. The narrator states-

"But at my back I always hear

Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near."

Striking imagery and metaphysical conceits are a common characteristic of Marvell as well as Metaphysical poetry. The beloved’s staying by the ‘Indian Ganges’ and the speaker’s by ‘Humber’ draw in our mind a vivid picture. The narrator narrates-

“Thou by the Indian Ganges' side

Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide

Of Humber would complain.”

In addition, Marvell compares the narrator's love for his lover's coy mistress to plants and to empires. In comparing deeply unlike things, the poet forces the reader to think more deeply about the connotations of the comparison. He calls his slowly growing like to be ‘vegetable love’ and therefore the speedy time to be ‘winged chariot hurrying near’. Here abstract ideas, as examples of metaphysical conceit, are expressed through concrete images throughout the poem.

"My vegetable love should grow

Vaster than empires and slower."

The poem is additionally marked by wit and irony. The speaker mocks at the ‘coyness’ of his beloved because she is in a position to refuse his love till the conversion of Jews into Christianity. Many of the lines of the poem have an epigrammatic quality which needs a lot of concentration and explanation. One of such examples is –

"The grave’s a fine and private place

But none I think do there embrace"

In conclusion, it can be said that most of the aspects discussed in the poem are the elements of metaphysical poetry. Therefore, the poem is an excellent example of metaphysical poetry. We should learn it by heart.