“To His Coy Mistress” by Marvell is a carpe diem poem that calls young women to enjoy the pleasures of life. There are many literary devices used by the author to make readers believe in his philosophy. I want to note two devices that are metaphor and simile. Metaphors appear twice in the poem, in the fourth and eleventh lines. The first one, “To walk, and pass our long love’s day,” is used to compare the life span of the author and his lover to one day. The second metaphor, “My vegetable love should grow,” compares the love of Marvell with the slow growth of vegetables. Such comparisons are also made to show the connection of human beings with nature and that love is a natural feeling.
Another device is a simile that only appears once in the poem. In the line thirty-four, “Sits on thy skin like morning dew,” Marvell compares the skin of a young woman with morning dew, suggesting that women are beautiful creatures that are made by the good of nature. I think that used literary devices are effective in transforming readers into the Marvell’s world full of joy and beauty. In addition, I do not consider his manner sarcastic, as he clearly believes in his philosophy. This is because while reading his comparisons, I was fascinated by how he could link such things together to write a sensitive poem. Carpe diem philosophy promoted by Marvell can be driven with his generation. He lived in the time where human beings demanded for joy of life and love (Ash). He wanted to live in a moment and get into bed with young women who were almost married.
Work Cited
Ash, Jackiey. What is Carpe Diem in the poem To His Coy Mistress? 2021. Literature Analysis.