“To his coy mistress” is based on the same theme as “The flea” as Marvell tries to woo his unyielding mistress with the hackneyed argument that time is exceptionally precious and does not stop for anyone or anything and that we should live for the moment, enjoying our selves to the maximum. “Times winged chariot hurrying near;” this is a reference to the Greek mythology that the sun was pulled across the sky by the God Apollo. Throughout the three similar length sections Marvell uses flattery and a strong, persuasive argument. In section one lines 1-25 Marvell uses flattery as the introduction to his line of reasoning and assures her that he will always love her, his love growing stronger as this is what she deserves and should be rightfully hers. “For, Lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate.”
In the second section of this lyric-like poem he uses the element of fear, but not in a threatening way. “Thy beauty shall no more be found” he tries to make her see that her beauty will fade and if she holds back her maidenhead (virginity) will not be any good to her when she is dead. “That long preserved virginity, And your quaint honour turned to dust.” He then tries to convince her that this is the right time through fear “Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song: then worms shall try That long preserved ” Speaking about her death is not exactly romantic while he is trying to woo her into bed with him.
In the last section he again uses flattery “Sits on thy skin like morning dew” and strong persuasive words to convince her to sleep with him. “And tear our pleasures with rough strife.” This idea is taken from hunting, where the hunter tears apart his pray with pleasure. He tries to conquer her fear, knowing that she wants to but at the same time does not want to lose her virginity before marriage. “And while thy willing soul transpires At every pore with instant fires,”
Marvell set his poem in Hull, England. This is where he grew up. We can see the setting because he speaks of the river in hull “I by the tide Of Humber would complain.”
“The Flea” has no references to where it is. I think Donne has purposely done this because he des not want the setting to be relevant, as it is not important.
Both poems are written for adults of 14 onwards, for the reason that each poem has complicated words and structures.
I think Marvell wrote this poem to make a strong point of impressive persuasive writting but also to explain that at that period in time, to lose your verginity before marriage was not looked upon lightly; as it meant that the man you married could leave you. It also might have been printed as an awearness of what men were like but involving some humour and light heartediness, expressing the feelings and atitudes of that time. “The flea” was written to show how far men will go to get what they want and is also written in a sightly mocking tone of women and their views on what is important and that it is silly to hang on to your maidenhead when time is precoius and that people could die early.
Marvell and Donne have very original and unique ways of writting their poems to convey each’s special intended meaning. Marvell uses plenty of flattery telling his lady that she looks lovely; “skin like morning dew” linked in with rhyming patterns 4/4 at the end of each line which helps to break the poem into phrases which is easier to assess. He has written it in first person narrative “I” and “we” with strong powerful words and linking lines “Had we but world enough, and time, This coyness, Lady, were no crime.” The punctuation used emphasises his points perfectly. He uses standard english of that period in time“ My vegetable love should grow Vaster then empires, and more slow:”and includes references to time and places “Thou by the Indian Gange’s side.
Donne has written this poem in first person narrative with strong powerful words and linking lines. It does have a rhythm of four beats to every line and uses rhyming words to link phrases together “this flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is;” The poem is in standard english at that period in time with no dialogues. Dunne is also very sucessful with the emphasis on the words he uses. “It suck‘d me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea, our two bloods mingled be;”
“Cloistered” “marriage” “temple” and “sacrilege” all have religious connections making his argument stronger. In the second stanza the argument appears to be going the poet’s way “oh stay, three lives in oneflea spare, where we almost yea more than married are” but the mistress counters this argument with wit and repartee of her lover by squashing the insect“ Cruel and sudden,hast thou since Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence?” Then he implores her to stay and I feel he produces a series of clever arguments premised, not in a reasonableness of sex, but in the morality of religion. There is never any reference to love.
The atomsphere of each poem is similar in some aspects but “To his coy mistress” is much more humours then “The flea” which is much more complex and subtle and each poet uses very discriptive words which effects their attempts of seduction. “ And pamper‘d swells with one blood made of to.” Donne discribes what has taken place and what should take place. “ And now, like amorous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour.” Marvell discribes using time well. I think Marvell’s argument is much more stronger and romatic with sex bringing them into a closer bond while “The flea” just seems to convey messages and arguments on seduction employing logic; both a dialectical logic which he relies on for his progress on question and answers but also a “syllogism logic” which is a three stage argument having two main premises- which would be the first two stanza’s, and a conclusion which ties into the third and final stanza while the metapor of the flea is ongoing throughout. Also an irregular tone in places from the structure and the vocabulary used is shown which is effective. Marvell uses different arguments which I consider to be far more effective because it keeps the audience interested and captivated, always planning in their minds or wondering what will happen next and if he will suceed in his passionate plea.
Leanne Thurlow
