Compare To His Coy Mistress(TM) by Andrew Marvell with To His Mistress Going to Bed(TM) by John Donne

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Compare ‘To His Coy Mistress’ by Andrew Marvell with ‘To His Mistress Going to Bed’ by John Donne

        

These poems are both themed on love, sex, romance and seduction. However, the attitudes towards their relationships and lovers are completely unlike. Andrew Marvell uses all forms of persuasion both negative and positive to get her into bed with him. On the other hand John Donne doesn’t seem to have to persuade his lover to sleep with him at all; it seems that she is already willing. He tells her “Two hundred to adore each breast: But thirty thousand to the rest”. This is an example of both, he is saying that this is what she is worth and this is the value she will have so long a she sleeps with him. He begins trying to persuade her with luxurious imagery (like the Indian Ganges and rubies).

He then progresses on to scare tactics, telling her that she soon will be dead so she must make the most of it whilst she still can! Although he doesn’t use those specific words he makes his meaning pretty obvious with phrases like, “the graves a fine and private place, But none, I think do there embrace”. However in ‘To His Mistress Going to Bed’ there is no persuasion, just description. When he does flatter her, its less flattery, more complements, his words are more realistic, he says things like “off with that girdle, like heavens zone glistering, But a far fairer world encompassing”. You get the feeling that he really believes it, he’s really sincere, and although what he’s saying isn’t realistic, it is realistic that he believes this of his lover. The main difference is that “To his Mistress Going to Bed” is more romantic, even though some don’t agree.

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Also Donne uses iambic pentameter which is a direct reflection of the poet’s idea that there is no rush for sex. However Marvell poem is octosyllabic (particularly when compared to Donne’s) it seems to be quite fast, emphasizing the rush for sex.

It also allows it to build up to the conclusion in the line “Full nakedness, All joys are due to thee,” When this phrase does appear the comma emphasis’s the anxious anticipation felt in the previous lines, because of the pause (which also appears in the first line “Come, madam, come, all rest my powers defy”). ...

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