Andrew Marvell writes in his poem, To His Mistress, that his lover is shy and must act now because she fears the end of time. Marvell describes his lover, who is shy, as “coy”. However, he fears that time will run out and they need to act now. Marvell uses imagery, metaphors, and diction to achieve his goal.
Marvell’s diction portrays time as an evil villain who chases after love and him, forcing them to seize every moment. Marvell’s use of “worms”, ashes, and dust to describe the outcome shows how serious the situation is. This connotation means that the lovers will be completely empty after death and will eventually rot on the ground. The lovers are therefore urged to make the most out of their time with each other as the clock is ticking. Marvell suggests that the lovers should enjoy their love while they can before time steals away their youth. The life they live is like dew. This connotation implies that time will soon take hold of the couple. Marvell’s words urge his lover to live life to the fullest with him because time is closing in on them.
Marvell shows that love and time are incompatible through his use of imagery. Marvell tells the girl that he’d love her for ten years prior to the Flood and until the Jews convert. This imagery shows that love is a true emotion. If Marvell were to have eternal life, he’d be with her for the rest of his time. The truth is that he’s not going to be able to keep his promise of love for her forever. Instead, he wants her now to accept the love – they don’t have much time. He shows it’s pointless to love her, because “her [Marvell’s] lust will be reduced to ashes, and [her] charming honor [will] become dust”. This imagery uses a contrast in that it compares the love of his life to death. The images show that the closer they get to death, the more time will pass. Death is inevitable and if they do not meet soon, it will be too late.
Marvell uses metaphors as well to illustrate that death is inevitable and will come for him, his love, and himself. Marvell’s “vegetable loves” would grow more slowly and vaster than empires. Marvell demonstrates that his love for his wife would grow slowly, but surely, if he had eternal love. However, this is not the case as “I always hear [Marvell’s] winged chariot hurrying towards me”. Marvell shows that he is right behind time by comparing the time to an eagle-winged chariot. Marvell knows that this “chariot”, when it approaches him and the love of his life, will catch them. They won’t be able to spend time together. Marvell uses metaphors that show time is quickly approaching him and love, preventing the two from spending forever together. Marvell uses metaphors to show that time is rushing towards him and his love, preventing them from having a forever together.
To His Mistress makes use of Marvell’s diction, imagery, metaphors, and other literary devices to highlight the urgency that the situation is in. To him, time is an enemy to love. And it will lead to his death. Marvell and his love must live in the moment and be together.
