Compare and contrast “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell and “The Flea” by John Donne

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©Nick Shepherd                English Essay

English Essay

Compare and contrast “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell and “The Flea” by John Donne

During the 17th century, metaphysical poetry was very popular.  Metaphysical poetry was well known for its knotted sentences and hidden arguments.  Often the argument was the main purpose of the poem (The Flea).  Metaphysical poems move from one idea to another often making comparisons between things that have little in common, and use imagery and syntax to try to confuse the reader.

“Courtley Love” was also very popular during the 17th century.  Men in these times used to try and woo women by writing extravagant love poems to them; most were adoring the women’s bodies and flattering them by describing their beauty.  Most of this was done without any reaction from the women.  Some metaphysical poetry mocks this Courtley Love by saying that there is no need for it and it just wastes time (To His Coy Mistress).

Both poets try to seduce and woo the women into sleeping with them.  The Flea tries to tell a story about a flea; how it had bitten the man and the woman and that their blood was now in the flea.  The blood is very significant to them and the poet tries to explain how simple and unimportant sex is.  The Flea tries to achieve what it wants it with the use if conceits (far-fetched metaphor) and paradox: the flea in the poem.  

To His Coy Mistress uses a different way of wooing the lady.  It is much more argumentative.  The poet speaks on a higher level than the lady and mocks her preferred, traditional Courtley Love.  The poem is much more aggressive and structured.  The poet gives the woman three different ideas that would confuse her.  This poem uses the conceit of time.

The poet of The Flea introduces the insect as a conceit.  He introduces the flea saying that it had bitten him and then her, and that their blood was intermingled in the flea.  The fragile representation of the flea could also represent the fragile argument of sex and symbolises that it is unimportant.  The poet tries to achieve the lady loosing her “maidenhead” to him.  He does this by forcefully putting across his argument – that sex is unimportant.  Donne uses simple and easy language proving that he speaks to the lady on the same level; there is no hierarchy.

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The poet tries to outline in the poem “To His Coy Mistress” that Courtley Love is a waste of time and that time should be spent having fun.  This poem is more like an intellectual debate where the poet prays on the woman’s fears and patronises her.  He first says that coyness would be acceptable if time was infinite – “… and time, this coyness would be no crime”.  The poet flatters the lady by making connections of her to the erotic Indian River – the Ganges and him to the bland English river – the Humber.  Marvell then ...

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