A Formalist Reading of Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”

to get its maximum pleasure. In the meantime, he uses esoteric imagery to illustrate his argument. For instance, he describes his life as a ‘vegetable love’- which not only gives connotations of a slow, developing love to grow for his mistress, but also a kind of love that could exist without sensual enjoyment or productivity, as opposed to his carnal desire. Thus, we must remember that the images are related to the establishment of theme.

The poet’s use of simile and metaphor is also remarkable. ‘Amorous birds of prey’ indicates his desire of strong stimulating response from his beloved in love-making. Thereby, the figurative device expresses their fierce and violent passion.

Meanwhile, Time is personified with ‘winged chariot’ to imply the powerful fleeting of moment. In this context, an abstract notion is given a concrete form through a figurative. But this metaphor’s connotation of a fast and furious speed is neatly juxtaposed with the ‘Deserts of vast Eternity’–an atmosphere of a slow, fruitless future. Besides, idealized romantic poetry is mocked through the crude or shocking and phallic imagery of ‘worms’ seducing the mistress’ dead body. Here, the poet is conveying his message of urgency and mortality. After that, ‘I think, none embraces in the grave’–another poetic device called understatement, is used.

The poem, with its wonderful manipulation of images and conceits, shows a truly serious use of sprightly wit. For instance, the speaker argues his case in a witty and ironical manner by lengthening his mistress’ reluctance ‘till the conversion of Jews’. He tries to simplify such an improbability through reasoning. Remarkably enough, his metaphysical wit is founded on analogy and logical progression-

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