The purpose of Andrew Marvell’s poem “To His Coy Mistress” is the capture of love true love, something that is worldwide. Courtship is important today as it was in the 1600’s. The character in the poem, possibly Andrew Marvell himself, wants sexual relations, perhaps as an act of love, with the woman in the title, and the lady appears resistant. He is trying to convince her to carpe diem, or seize today, live today.
The poem is a story broken into three parts. First part is a testament to its time. “Had we but world enough, and time, /this coyness, lady were no crime”(lines 1-2). Andrew Marvell stresses the word time, time is most important, given that it is running out on the relationship. The character is trying to convince his sweetheart give up her love, perhaps her virginity to him. He tells her that now is the time, if she waits, she maybe sorry. She should seize the day. In today’s culture it is even more so than that of the 1600’s.
The next few lines, “We would sit down, and think which way / to walk and pass our long love’s day” (lines 3-4), describes how the young lady would like to spend her time in this relationship. Also the persona seems to like this option, but he seems to know that it may not be a valid option. He appeals to her desires and makes it sound as loving as possible.
Andrew Marvell then places the mistress “by the Indian Ganges’ side / shouldst rubies find” (line 5-6), this symbolizes purity. The image of her by rubies increases her value to him and enhances her beauty.
“I by the tide / of Humber would complain [.]” (line 6-7) reference to an English river. It appears the persona is weakening to her and allowing his emotions to show. In the 1600’s it would have been uncommon for a man to allow his emotions to show without due reason, such as one’s true love.
The character wants her to know that he would love throughout all time, such as “ten years before the Flood” (line 8). He wants her to know that she as a special place in his heart. The assumption that the relationship will stand the test of time, he references the Flood, seems to mean the Biblical Flood, he attempts to reassure her that he will love her through the bad and good times.
In “refuse / till the conversion of the Jews” (line 9-10) he realizes that she may refuse his love for all time, but he wants to reassure her that he will still love her.
No matter what, he still looks at her as beautiful lady. “An hundred years should go to praise / thine eyes and on the forehead gaze, / two hundred to adore each breast, / but thirty thousand to the rest” (lines 13-16). He is stunned, mesmerized by her beauty. He will desire her body, yet he wants her to also know “the last age should show your heart” (line 18), he wants her soul and heart. It seems he now realizes that after lovemaking dies there is still more to this beautiful woman. He adores her heart, she means more to him than “nor would I love at lower rate” (line 20). This woman is worth it all body, soul, and mind.
Still wanting sexual relations with his mistress, he tries to scare her. He uses phrases and allusions to try and get her to be his. “But at my back I always hear / Time’s winged chariot hurrying near” (lines 21-22). The end is coming, death is on its way and it may be soon. The decision should be made now or it could be to late.
He then tries to alarm her with the probability that her beauty will be taken. “Thy beauty shall no more be found” (line 25). This possibility of beauty be taken is a scary thought for the young woman. He does not stop here he then tells her worms can eat her. “Then worms shall try / that long preserved virginity” (lines 27-28).
He tells the young woman that her “quaint honor will turn to dust” (line 29). He wants her to know that she should give up her honor, because eventually, death is going to catch up with her and take her honor anyway.
Now he tries to make her feel guilty, “The grave’s a fine and private place, / but none, I think, do there embrace” (lines 31-32). He wants her to understand that it is okay to go the grave with her honor, but she should remember there, will no love or happiness be found, only solitude.
In the final stanza he makes his final plea’s. He complements the young woman on her beauty again. “Youthful hue / sits on thy skin like morning due” (lines 33-34). Like that of morning dew sitting of the ground every morning, the young woman is the first thing on his mind everyday.
The persona tells her “and while thy willing soul transpires / at every pore with instant fires, / now let us sport us while we may,” (lines 35-37). He first lets her know that she still can make her own decision, she as a choice.
He tries to entice her more. “And now, like amorous birds of prey, / rather at once our time devour / than languish in his slow-chapped power” (lines 38-40). This is how he feels and hopefully how she feels. He tries to be amorous, erotic and he tries to make her feel the same way.
Next Andrew Marvell gives description of that first encounter. “Let us roll all our strength and all / our sweetness up into one ball” (lines 41-42) this what it will be like together their first time.
He wants to warn her that it could be painful. He tries to let her know this as delicately as possible without alarming her. “Tear our pleasures with rough strife / thorough the iron gates of life” (lines 42- 43). He is honest with her and tells that she will “tear” and it maybe “rough strife”. This is just part of life. Going “thorough the iron gates of life” can mean the burdensome gate to be open so they both may gain happiness.
Finally, he hopes the act “Thus, though we cannot make our sun / stand still, yet we will make him run” (lines 45-46), he his saying to the mistress even though we can not make time stand still we can make our love last an eternity.
In summary, this poem tells the story of a man trying to convince his love that they should seize the moment, seize the day. The poem is testimonial of how true love is. The meaning and message seems to travel over time, with the passion felt today is the same as that felt in 1681. How love is when you give body, heart, soul, and mind.
