close
test_template

Visual Imagery in to His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell

download print

About this sample

About this sample

close

Words: 430 |

Page: 1|

3 min read

Published: Jun 9, 2021

Words: 430|Page: 1|3 min read

Published: Jun 9, 2021

During the 17th century, women were seen as an object rather than a human being and men had many desires for women. For example, women were expected to keep her dignity, wait for courtship, and marry a suitable suitor before succumbing to the flesh’s pleasures. In the poem “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell, the author portrays the male of the seventeenth century’s impatience and anger, ready to convince his lady to take advantage of her youthful beauty. The speaker utilizes visual imagery to convey his tone and intention by using point of view in an attempt to demonstrate his love and in a voice that is as urgent as it is both compelling and sensual, to lure his mistress to carnal delights.

'Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned'?

Marvell portrays his poem by convincing his love towards his lady through the use of visual imagery. It states “And your quaint honour turn to dust, and into ashes all my lust”. This evidence indicates that Marvell is referring to his lady’s honour turning to dust and then into ashes. This contributes to the poem by showing the love he has towards his lady and that they should be together because they won’t be young forever and should take advantage of it while they can and that should show their love for one another, because one day, it may be too late. It also states “Now therefore, while the youthful hue sits on thy skin like morning dew and while thy willing soul transpires at every pore with instant fires”. This evidence conveys that the lady soul breathes out in ‘instant flames’ of enthusiasm and passion for love through her beautiful skin. The author now wants his mistress to give in to her desire as she can still respond before time takes her toll. Marvell declares his core argument for his lover that she must decide to have sex with him and to make use of the time together wisely.

In conclusion, Marvell tries to make himself seem reasonable by saying that he is going to wait for his woman, but ultimately he just looks at her as an object and wants her to live up to his lustful desires and have sex with him. The woman’s concern for her appearance, her vanity, is the device that the author is attempting to use to threaten her with the passage of time. His first flattery of her beauty is abstract, without any description.He expresses this through the use of visual imagery to express his tone and purpose in an attempt to demonstrate his desire and love to his lady. 

Works Cited

  1. Abrams, M. H., & Greenblatt, S. (Eds.). (2018). The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Seventeenth Century, Volume B. W. W. Norton & Company.
  2. Baldwin, T. (2004). William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Research & Education Assoc.
  3. Brooks, C. (1947). The Waste Land: Critique of the Myth. The Sewanee Review, 55(1), 9-24.
  4. Burrow, C. (Ed.). (2006). The Complete Sonnets and Poems. Oxford University Press.
  5. Ferguson, M., Salter, M., & Stallworthy, J. (Eds.). (2015). The Norton Anthology of Poetry (6th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
  6. Marvell, A. (1681). Miscellaneous Poems. Printed for Robert Boulter.
  7. Nelles, W. (2019). Andrew Marvell: The Chameleon. Cambridge University Press.
  8. Parfitt, G. (2017). Andrew Marvell: The Poems. Routledge.
  9. St. John, I. (Ed.). (2013). The Cambridge Companion to Andrew Marvell. Cambridge University Press.
  10. Williamson, G. (2018). A Reader's Guide to Andrew Marvell. Bloomsbury Academic.
Image of Dr. Charlotte Jacobson
This essay was reviewed by
Dr. Charlotte Jacobson

Cite this Essay

Visual Imagery in To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell. (2021, Jun 09). GradesFixer. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/literary-analysis-of-the-poem-to-his-coy-mistress-by-andrew-marvell/
“Visual Imagery in To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell.” GradesFixer, 09 Jun. 2021, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/literary-analysis-of-the-poem-to-his-coy-mistress-by-andrew-marvell/
Visual Imagery in To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/literary-analysis-of-the-poem-to-his-coy-mistress-by-andrew-marvell/> [Accessed 28 Mar. 2024].
Visual Imagery in To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2021 Jun 09 [cited 2024 Mar 28]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/literary-analysis-of-the-poem-to-his-coy-mistress-by-andrew-marvell/
copy
Keep in mind: This sample was shared by another student.
  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours
Write my essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

close

Where do you want us to send this sample?

    By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

    close

    Be careful. This essay is not unique

    This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

    Download this Sample

    Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

    close

    Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

    close

    Thanks!

    Please check your inbox.

    We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

    clock-banner-side

    Get Your
    Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

    exit-popup-close
    We can help you get a better grade and deliver your task on time!
    • Instructions Followed To The Letter
    • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
    • Unique And Plagiarism Free
    Order your paper now