In Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress, the speaker’s sincerity is evident through the usage of various poetic devices, including rhyme scheme, rhythm/meter, word choices, key images, tone, and mythological and religious allusions. Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress poem’s argument is that life is short and fleeting, and therefore the speaker urges her to abandon her reluctance and engage in a relationship with him. This essay will examine how Marvell’s use of these poetic devices contributes to the speaker’s sincerity.
The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with a consistent AABB rhyme scheme. This regularity in meter and rhyme scheme creates a sense of control and order, reflecting the speaker’s sincerity (Dzelzainis and Holberton). For instance, in the first stanza, the speaker says, “Had we but world enough and time, / This coyness, lady, were no crime” (1-2). The steady rhythm of the lines, combined with the end rhymes, gives the impression that the speaker has meticulously planned his argument, reinforcing his earnestness.
Marvell’s word choices also contribute to the speaker’s sincerity. Throughout the poem, the speaker applies vivid and passionate language to express his desires. For example, he states, “I would / Love you ten years before the flood, / And you should, if you please, refuse / Till the conversion of the Jews” (7-10). The use of words like “love,” “pleases,” and “refuse” conveys the speaker’s genuine emotions and desire for the mistress (Munib). By employing such evocative language, the speaker demonstrates his honesty and the intensity of his feelings.
Furthermore, Marvell utilizes key images to enhance the veracity. The speaker employs a metaphor of time as a relentless force that threatens to separate the couple. He says, “But at my back, I always hear / Time’s wingéd chariot hurrying near” (21-22). This image of time as a chariot implies urgency and emphasizes the fleeting nature of life (Arifuddin). The speaker’s fear of time running out further strengthens his genuineness as he desperately implores the mistress to seize the present moment.
The tone of the poem also contributes to the speaker’s truthfulness. The speaker’s tone is both passionate and desperate as he tries to convince the coy mistress to engage in a sexual relationship (Augustine). He states, “Now let us sport us while we may, / And now, like amorous birds of prey” (31-32). The word “sport” suggests a sense of playfulness and enjoyment, while the phrase “amorous birds of prey” delivers the speaker’s eagerness and intensity. The combination of these tones shows the poet’s straightforwardness in his desire to make the most of their moments together.
Additionally, Marvell incorporates mythological and religious allusions, adding depth and complexity to the narrator’s frankness. He references the biblical story of the Great Flood and the conversion of the Jews, suggesting that his love for the mistress is eternal and unyielding (Garganigo). He says, “My vegetable love should grow / Vaster than empires, and more slow” (11-12). The allusion to the biblical flood implies that the speaker’s love is vast and enduring, while the mention of the conversion of the Jews suggests that his love will remain steadfast even in the face of adversity. These allusions serve to reinforce the speaker’s seriousness and commitment to the mistress.
In sum, Marvell’s utilization of rhyme scheme, rhythm/meter, lexicon, pivotal visuals, tone, and mythological and religious references all contribute to the speaker’s sincerity in To His Coy Mistress. The poem’s contention is that existence is ephemeral and transitory, and the speaker impels his demure mistress to seize the current juncture. By employing these poetic tools, Marvell adeptly conveys the speaker’s earnestness and authentic longing for the mistress.
Works Cited
Arifuddin, Arifuddin, et al. “Carpe Diem in Andrew Marvell’s Poem to His Coy Mistres.” Journal of Language, vol. 4, no. 1, 2022, pp. 58-65.
Augustine, Matthew C. Andrew Marvell: A Literary Life. Springer Nature, 2021.
Garganigo, Alex. “Worlds Enough and Time: The Fantastic Afterlives of” To His Coy Mistress”.” Marvell Studies, vol. 6, no.1, 2021.
Marvell, Andrew. To His Coy Mistress. Miscellaneous Poems, 1681.
Munib, Maha Mohamed. “Existential Self (ves) as reflected in two Metaphysical poets‟: John Donne‟ s “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” and Andrew Marvell‟ s “To His Coy Mistress”.” Annals of the Faculty of Arts, vol. 50, 2022, pp. 211-225.
Dzelzainis, Martin, and Edward Holberton, editors. The Oxford Handbook of Andrew Marvell. Oxford University Press, 2019.