Marvell begins to tell her what would happen if time wasn’t an issue. “We would sit down and think which way, To walk and pass our long love’s day”. The phrase ‘we would’ already gives us the idea that anything Marvell mentions they can do will never happen. The alliteration of “long loves day” begins to slow down the rhythm; this allows us to assume the mood it would be if they could luxuriate in time. Marvell then goes on to say “Thou by the Indian Ganges side Shouldst rubies find”. The Indian Ganges represents an exotic, mystical and magnificent image; the image of rubies gives an impression of something precious and rare, during the 17th century, ‘rubies’ were classed as a symbol of preserving virginity. This begins to illustrate a romantic image, walking by the river and finding rubies. However, Marvell then says “Of Humber would complain”. The River is a Symbol of reality, he is of the Humber while his mistress is of the mystical and exotic Ganges, this gives the impression that he is not worthy of her. They represent two different worlds; the image of walking beside the Ganges is where time is limitless.
Herrick and Marvell both use the technique of personifying time. Herrick says “Old time is still a-flying”. This image gives the idea that time is important and powerful, and rules everyone, there’s no stopping it. This almost gives a God like image, it commands and can’t be beaten. This leads us to assume the idea that time is transitory, it’s running out. Marvell also personifies time, “Times winged chariot hurrying near”. This gives a similar impression that time is catching up and running out. Also, Herrick’s personification of time makes time seem all-powerful and commanding. Herrick, likewise to Marvell, begins to emphasize that time isn’t limitless. “And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow will be dying”. In the 17th century, virginity was a prized possession; however, Herrick’s argument is trying to state that modesty won’t get your anywhere.
Marvell begins to portray his love the growth of a vegetable. “My vegetable love should grow”. Marvell may use this phrase to show his love as ripe and organic and showing that if time wasn’t limitless, he would let his love grow or perhaps he uses this phrase in a phallic use. If Marvell wishes this phrase to be used in phallic terms, this can be seen as metaphysical wit, and overall shows a metaphysical conceit.
Herrick begins to look at the natural image of the sun. “The glorious lamp of heaven”, this suggests that the sun is majestic and all powerful. Here we can see that both the sun and time are two powerful forces. The idea of the sun gives the idea of visions of divinity, the sun is too going through life, but the sun can rise, we cannot once we have set. Herrick could be inferring to the fact that at the time, life expectancy was short, and therefore, he is telling all virgins of any kind to live life to the fullest before it is too late.
Marvell begins to turn to he mistress’s natural beauty. “Two hundred to adore each breast, but thirty thousand to the rest”, Marvell begins to use hyperbole to show the depth of his love. The use of the hyperbole gives us the impression that ultimately, this is to seduce here, he is trying to sweet talk her to give up her virginity. Marvell cleverly uses ambiguity to adore her natural beauty; however, it once again refers to the idea that if there was time, two hundred years would go adore each breast, however, there isn’t time. Marvell begins to talk what the mistress wants to hear, he makes simple things and ideas sound much more marvellous than they actually area, by appealing to her vanity. Marvell then says “And the last age should show your heart”. Marvell leaves the heart till last; this leads us to assume that he has done to show that his love for her is greater than anything, saving the best till last.
Both Herrick and Marvell use images of death to strengthen their argument. Herrick’s poem binds the idea of youth and death together. “When youth and blood are warmer”. The idea of youth is similar to the idea of time, when both are gone, they never come back. This leads us to assume that idea that once we are death, our blood is old, not young. This works to Herrick’s advantage to convince the virgins that youth is important and must not be wasted. Marvell also explored the idea of youth and death. “While the youthful hue, sits on thy skin like morning dew”. Marvell explores this more poetically, Marvell adopts the idea that youth will eventually evaporate and decay and leave us old. This also works to Marvell’s advantage to convince the mistress to give up her virginity. Marvell explores this issue with more imagination where as Herrick lacks it and is more prosaic.
Marvell explores the idea of death in much more depth than Herrick. “Deserts of vast eternity”. Marvell’s idea of life after death is a barren, empty infertile place. He dismisses any noting of their being an afterlife. Marvell almost begins to threaten her by using dark and gloomy images. “Thy marble vault… the grave’s a fine and private place”. The word ‘fine’ suggests a further example of Marvell’s humour, Marvell is trying to enforce the idea that once you are dead, nobody will be there with you, nobody will company you, by using the words ‘fine’ and ‘private’, it makes fun of the situation. In a more serious intention, Marvell may be trying to put forward the idea that she will be on her own, he says “Then worms shall try”. The phrase ‘marble vault’ suggests a cold confined area where only she will lay and nobody can join her. He uses a more darkening and gruesome images to enforce his argument to make his mistress lose her virginity. Herrick and Marvell both use images of death yet Herrick doesn’t use gruesome images to explore the issue of death.
Marvell’s end to his poem outlines his philosophical views of life, love and death.
“Through the iron gates of life”, this suggests that he is going to break through her iron gates of life, her chastity, her virginity. The idea of going through leads us to assume it’s a life journey, passing through time. Marvell ends his poem by saying “Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run”. Marvell ends the poem very optimistically, Marvell’s last line indicates that time cannot stand still, the reality of life is that time cannot be controlled. Marvell and Herrick personify the sun, the sun in both poems illustrate time. The idea of the sun symbolising time is that time is powerful and never-ending and cannot be controlled, a wonderful yet dominant force of nature. Marvell’s idea that we cannot control time yet we can make him run suggests the idea that we can seize the moment and make the most of time; this offers a powerful climax to the poem.
Herrick’s poem ends also with optimism. Herrick ends his poem with the lines “For having lost but once your prime, you may for ever tarry”. Herrick explains to the virgins that only once you have lost your virginity, can the urgency be lost and then you can relax. Herrick’s end is less philosophical than Marvell’s poem; therefore his poem goes out to all virgins. He is telling virgins to search for happiness, not for the moment, he is telling them to go look for fulfilment, such as marriage, marriage isn’t a one off, it is there for life.
Marvell’s poem has a structure which helps enforce Marvell’s argument. In the first section of Marvell’s poem, there is a slower pace; the pace reflects the mood at this moment in the poem. Marvell is discussing the idea if they had more time; he begins to tell her what would happen if they could luxuriate in time, he says that if he had more time, he would love her forever. In the second section, Marvell quickens the pace of the poem reflecting urgency, he begins to suggest that the time isn’t there, leaving to suggestion that they must not waste time and use it carefully. In the third section, Marvell offers a solution to the mistress, Carpe Diem, to seize the moment.
Herrick’s poem has shorter lines, already; this poem is very different from Marvell’s poem. The shorter lines make the poem much quicker, this makes Herrick’s poem much more direct. Herrick’s poem also contains alternate lines, this is effective as it puts out that time constrains us all. The quick tempo of Herrick’s poem also adds to idea that there is urgency, time if flying and not limitless. Marvell’s poem must slow down in areas as his situation is different, he must use a slower tempo to add to the intensity and romantic atmosphere. Herrick’s rhyme scheme for his poem is much more uplifting and jaunty and makes the poem much more straight-forward where as Marvell’s poem is much more sophisticated and complex. The reason for this is that Herrick isn’t trying to seduce anyone; he is trying to convince virgins of anything to go and look for happiness where as Marvell’s must be sophisticated and more persuasive because he is trying to seduce a woman. Herrick’s poem doesn’t need to philosophical; therefore it is accessible to all virgins.
Herrick and Marvell both use different ways of explaining the idea that time cannot be wasted and used to the limit. However, Marvell’s situation is different to Herrick’s situation. Marvell’s poem is a discussion towards his mistress in an attempt to seduce, therefore Marvell needs more effort, longer, less secretive and immediate approach to the situation while Herrick’s situation is a symposium towards all virgins, therefore, Marvell will need to use archaic diction and make it much more complicated and use sophisticated language. Herrick simply needs to be straight to the point and direct, Herrick isn’t trying to seduce anyone, and he is making a statement to persuade virgins to embrace life and live for happiness rather than the moment. Both Herrick and Marvell have to argue their situations; I believe that Marvell does it more interestingly. Marvell’s argument is much more forceful, he morally believes that denial of pleasure is a waste and throughout his poem, argues to his mistress to end her denial of her body to him. As he seduces the mistress, he seduces the reader into understanding him. To make his argument effective, he uses ambiguity and may even be arrogant, yet he does this to ultimately seduce his mistress. Herrick’s is much more urgent and delivers the argument to make most of time; therefore his poem must be quicker, more immediate and therefore less effort needed. In all, Marvell’s poem is much more in-depth, sophisticated and imaginative, which make it more interesting to read, Herrick’s poem is direct, ultimately this is because it doesn’t need to be, however, it is much more prosaic and lacks a certain reality where as Marvell uses a variety of techniques such as slowing the tone down, use of sophisticated & ambiguous language make Marvell’s poem much more effective.
