POETRY
To his Coy Mistress and
in Mrs Tilcher´s Class
In both poems the idea of ´´time´´ is extremly important because they use time in different ways. The poets have really emphasased this topic. It is used as something you have to make the most of it and live as if it was the last minute of life. In ´´Mrs Tilcher´s Class´´ is a poem about a girl who has very good memories of when she was at school, whereas in ´´To his Coy Mistress,´´ time is essential. Is seen as a method of persuading the woman to sleep with the men.
In ´´To his Coy Mistress´´ the poet is always aware of time, and uses time in various ways in order to persuade his mistress to fully commit herself to him. He starts by using time in a conventional romantic way. For instance, he says how long he would like to love her. Evidence which proves this passionate love is when he assures her that if they´´had the world enough, and time,´´ and that they would ´´pass our long´s love day together.´´ In this poem the distance isn´t a hindrance or drawback for them to ´´love you ten tears before flood.´´ Nothing else matters because they´ve got all the time in the world. In this deep ans strong love, exists a sexual passion where the poet assures his mistress that he would love every part of her body. He would spend ´´two hundred to adore each breast,´´ ´´But thirty thousand to the rest.´´ ´´An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart.´´ These romantic lines demonstrate they would love until they die. Halfway through the poem, the poet´s tone changes and he uses time as a threat. He is always aware of ´´time´s winged chariot hurrying near.´´ The poet is always aware of time and he is concious that time also passes for his mistress. He bears in mind that, that body and beauty she has, will one day dissapear. Clear evidence for his is when she says ´´and women shall try that long preserved virginity and your quaint honour turn to dust.´´ Suddenly both of them realize that time is passing and that one day their beautiful love will die with them. The poet uses the word´´now´´ to reflect how time is important and how rapidly it is passing and if they don´t make the most of time the chance of being happy will pass. Another piece of evidence which proves that time is a concern for these two lovers is when he says´´at every pore with instant fires,´´ to be realistic and admit that they will no more love a young person.
