The idea "carpe diem" became very popular in Renaissance English poetry. Carpe Diem means "seize the day", therefore one should always try to grab and make the most of one's life at his or her best ability. In the poem "To the Virgins, to Make much of Time", the author Herrick, who is a priest, urges and admonishes all young women to enjoy, finish, or do as much as you can every day because "Tomorrow will be dying". Herrick also suggests that time is relentless and fleeting, therefore a woman should "go marry", so she won't regret whatever she couldn't do. This poem conveys the idea of carpe diem clearly because it intends to instruct women to grab and even grasp as much as they can because time does not wait for people.
In Marvel's poem "To His Coy Mistress", the speaker urges his "mistress", or lover, to take advantage of the moment because "time's winged chariot hurrying near". He suggests that youth and beauty will soon be gone and they will both lie in graves. As opposed to the young lady's hesitant attitude, the speaker urges her to "sport us while we may", to enjoy pleasures and pursuits. Compared with Herrick's poem, Marvel's poem is also clear on the theme of carpe diem. However, Marvel's poem is more "personal" since the speaker only addresses the poem to his lover.
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1 comment:
Good work. Full points.
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