Compare and Contrast 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell with 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' by John Donne
Compare and Contrast 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell with 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' by John Donne
'To His Coy Mistress' and 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' are both poems about men seducing women. They centre around sex rather than love or romance. Sixteenth and seventeenth century attitudes to love and relationships were much stricter going as far as wealthy people asking their perspective lovers to court them via love poem or letter. Though this has changed from the sixteenth and seventeenth century to today, little else has. It is still most common for a man to initiate a relationship, and men are still perceived as the most sex obsessed. However, even though we are led to believe that their attitudes were more conservative, the attitudes conveyed in these poems are very raw and primitive in the way that they make sex the ultimate. The men are desperate begging the women for sex. However, as we know from other poems (such as Cousin Kate and The Seduction) men valued purity above most other things (when considering marriage). So we could say that these men were hypocritical for wanting their women pure for marriage but willing to have sex with them pre-marriage!
These poems are both themed on love, sex, romance and seduction. However, the attitudes towards their relationships and lovers are completely diverse. 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. Andrew Marvell appears to be incredibly desperate, but, in an unrelated way quite self-assured. Marvell says, "Had we had but world enough, and time, this coyness, lady, were be no crime". This suggests that he is confident that she wants to have sex with him but she is just playing hard to get, enjoying the chase! He seems to think that his lover is naïve because he uses false flattery and promises her all that she wants, tells her everything that she wants to hear. He tells her "Two hundred to adore each breast: But thirty thousand to the rest". Thus 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. This couple seem to already be established and John Donne's lover does not require persuasion, as said earlier she is willing. Whereas in Andrew Marvell's poem he uses false flattery telling her all she wants to hear. Donne is genuine he loves his mistress and thinks of sex as a part of their relationship. When he does flatter her, it's less flattery, more complements, his words are more realistic, he says things like "off with that girdle, like heavens zones glittering, 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, though this is debatable.
The language used in these poems is archaic English. However there is more prominent use of Archaic English in 'To His Mistress Going to Bed', using it in nearly every line. Seeing as it was written in the sixteenth century it is obvious why they would use Archaic English. However the combination of the explicit sexual content, graphic imagery and the archaic English makes more of an impact, it makes more of an impression than if it was written in Modern English. At a first glance, even though 'To His Coy Mistress' is a much more sinister poem, ...
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The language used in these poems is archaic English. However there is more prominent use of Archaic English in 'To His Mistress Going to Bed', using it in nearly every line. Seeing as it was written in the sixteenth century it is obvious why they would use Archaic English. However the combination of the explicit sexual content, graphic imagery and the archaic English makes more of an impact, it makes more of an impression than if it was written in Modern English. At a first glance, even though 'To His Coy Mistress' is a much more sinister poem, because of the use of graphic, sexually explicit imagery 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' seems a much harsher poem. Both Marvell and Donne's poems are written in rhyming couplets, this is a style of writing traditionally used in love poetry. Therefore, giving the poems a more romantic feeling. Also Donne uses iambic pentameter which is a direct reflection of the poets idea that there is no rush for sex. However Marvell poem is octosylabic (particularly when compared to Donne's) it seems to be quite fast, emphasizing the rush for sex. In 'To His mistress Going to Bed' it nearly always uses positive phrases, the description of clothing gives it a slower feel. This, again, suggests that there's no rush for sex. It also allows it to build up to the culmination in the line "Full nakedness! All joys are due to thee,". When this phrase does appear the exclamation mark emphasis's the anxious anticipation felt in the previous lines, (which also appears in the first line "Come, madam, come all rest my powers defie"). It stresses the excitement felt at this point. Both poems use imagery, however the use of it is individual to each poem. In "To His Coy Mistress' the imagery is linked to the persuasion alone where as in "His Mistress Going to Bed" it's used to set a romantic scene. "In this love hallow'd temple, this soft bed. In such white robes, heavens us'd to be". These are luxurious images- comparing their bed to a temple. Also in these lines of comparison using the words 'heaven' and 'angel', it's almost as if he's suggesting that they'll (eventually) go there together. That she is like an angel, their relationship sent from above. It's romantic, loving and caring. This is as completely contrary to Marvell's poem as possible. He begins by trying to woo his lover with phrases like "Thou by the Indian Ganges side Should'st rubies find: I by the tide ". Then when he realises that he is having no luck he moves on to scare tactics. "My echoing song: then worms shall try that long preserved virginity". By describing an awful extreme it places a haunting image in her mind. It's less likely to be forgotten if it is visual. Although it's an unlikely form of persuasion it's a clear insight into just how desperate he has become. Though both use passionate imagery, I think that the key to how deep the meaning goes is in the use of it- to seduce or to romance. It's a matter of opinion.
How the poem is written is a lot to do with the century it is written in, the poetic era (eg. the renaissance, the metaphysical), the poetic influences and lastly (but most obviously) the poet's personality. John Donne was born in 1572 and was a clergy man and although he changed his religion (from Roman Catholic to Anglican) he remained devoutly religious. Now, with a first glance at his poem you would probably find it rather confusing because of the graphic imagery and explicit sexual content. However when you take a closer look at the poem you can see Donne expressing his religious side.
"In this loves hallow'd temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven's Angel us'd be
Receaved by men: thou Angel bringst with thee
A heaven like Mahomets Paradise and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easly know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,"
All the words above underlined are religious references, so as you can see he really did express his religious side. This also helps the poem convey it's deeper, richer, more meaningful aspects. Now although Andrew Marvell does mention the soul it is not in conjunction with religion, it is more to do with death and pressurization. Having said this, Marvell does reveal his own unique personality. Marvell was born in 1621, he spent his life as an avid political activist (even as far as being MP for Hull), also as he got older he took a role in some anti-Catholic work. Marvell's poem is strong and forceful which is a direct reflection of the person that he was. Marvell was accused of intense racial intolerance. I think that his inability to accept that his lover might reject him is just another example of his intolerant personality. However this inability to be tolerant could be a cover up for something much deeper down. He may be desperate for sex, because, even though his personality is forceful he's trying to disguise his hollow inside. In his search for completion which he thinks that he could find in love he is disillusioning himself with the belief that love and sex are the same thing and in the process he is making himself appear desperate.
As I mentioned earlier the era a poem is written in is very influential in the way that it is written. Both poems have characteristics typical of metaphysical poetry. They use far fetched imagery, which, in my opinion helps convey each poets individuality. However, I believe that it isn't the metaphysical ideas that both poems use but the differences that tell us the most.They both use the idea of spirituality in unrelated ways. "To His Mistress Going to Bed" uses spirituality as a tool of romance, where as "To His Coy Mistress uses it as a threat. The metaphysical poets enjoyed exploring the idea of immortality. In Marvell's poem he says "Nor in thy marble vault, shall sound" making reference to death. Then later on he says "and while thy willing soul transpires" which shows he believes in the after life. Marvell uses a lot of references to time, the metaphysical poets signature concept. Also Marvell uses the idea that she should make the most of her life while she was alive as she never knows when it will end. This is Carp Diem (seize the day) another of the metaphysical poets signature ideas. I don't think that Donne felt compelled to use so many metaphysical concepts. He only has a small reference to time. "Unlace yourself, for that harmonious chyme, Tells me from you that it is bed time". Therefore looking at the poems (if I didn't know the dates they were written) I would say that Donne wrote in the early metaphysical era and Marvell in the middle, which is accurate. To me it seems that the metaphysical poets toyed with the ideas of life but mainly death. They loved time, death, Carp Diem and the suggestion of immortality. Though these ideas may singularly seem slightly morbid, the way that these poets used them gave the poem an enchantingly curious feel.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries purity was evidently at the top of people's priority list as both poems use the idea. "my echoing son: then words shall try That long preserved virginity". This is telling his lover that she shouldn't worry about losing her virginity because no matter what happens she will have to lose it. In 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' it says "Thy self: cast all ,yea, this white lynnen hence". Although literally it's telling her to throw off the cover, metaphorically he's telling her to cast aside her purity. However from other sources we know that women who weren't virgins were over looked for marriage. Once again I suggest that these men were hypocrites. Lastly I want to comment on the men's opinion of women in general. In both poems there's a derogatory opinion of women shown. Marvell says, "Had we but world enough and time, this coyness lady were no crime". This suggests that Marvell thinks his lover to be coy, a false shyness, encouraging him to chase her for as long as possible without giving anything. This is saying that she is sluttish, pretending for anyone else to see, that she is innocent, shy and pure, though this is just an illusion. Donne although kind and considerate throughout most of the poem he still insinuates that his mistress is deceptive. "To taste whole joyes. Jems which you women use. Are like Atlanta's Balls cast in men's views". This is saying that she uses clothing, jewellery, make-up etc. to throw deception in the path way of men. From this we can deduce that women were perceived as deceptive to gain benefits by many people, maybe even society as a majority. However what the men in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries perceived as deception, we would now take as our public and private images. Just because women don't choose to give away all their secrets I don't believe it makes them deceptive, just private, and that certainly isn't a crime! I believe that sixteenth and seventeenth century men had fixed ideas which they used for their own benefits whereas women had to be pure and have no secrets. From this I would like to suggest hat the sixteenth and seventeenth century attitudes were rather unfair.
I must admit that my opinion has completely altered from my first read of the poem to now, in many different ways. At first these poems seemed to give us a total insight into two men's lusting for sex loosely veiled in disgustingly, transparent wrappings. However on my closer inspection I found the poems to have much deeper significance. 'To his Coy Mistress' gave us a view into a highly involved political mind. It cuts straight through any pretence and takes us directly to his desires. Where as 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' shows us capability of a man in love with God to love a lover. When I first saw these poems I thought that they were basically the same, both with the overall theme of sex. On closer inspection though I saw the differences, Donne's being about romance and love, Marvell's seduction and lust, now I see that they are completely different. The poems clearly show the sixteenth and seventeenth century attitudes towards many things. I think that these poems show up sixteenth and seventeenth century society as being incredibly sexist in favour of men. Men were allowed to manipulate the rules for their own benefit. Where as women were trapped inside men's stereotypes, their ideas of what was right and wrong. As I said earlier, women were seen as seductresses, enchanting men with their clothes, make-up and jewellery. Also from these poems we can tell that not that much has changed from the sixteenth and seventeenth century attitudes. Yes, nowadays women can initiate a relationship but it is still more likely for a man to. Today men still like women to sleep with them pre-marriage and if they don't they get negative labels. However if a girl sleeps with many men she has an equal chance of being prejudged and reprimanded. This is similar to sixteenth and seventeenth century attitudes to women and sex. Also men are still perceived a the most sex obsessed. I believe that this shows men to be hypocrites. There are some differences between the attitudes conveyed in these poems and the one's that I see written today. Today we are much freer to talk about our emotions. Whether we want to or not, nowadays when we listen to music, see the television, films, magazines, papers, even just walking down the street we have sexual, lustful references forced on us. Back in the sixteenth and seventeenth century people didn't have the opportunities we have today to express themselves where as in Donne and Marvell's times emotional outlets were few and far between. Therefore when they did get an opportunity they really went into graphic detail, and although this can seem quite disgusting I can understand why it had to be this way. My favourite of the two poems is "To His Mistress Going to Bed". I preferred it because the atmosphere created by Donne is more loving, romantic and sincere. It really showed that he had deep emotional capability.