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  • Essay / The theme of Carpe Diem in The Flea by John Donne and To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell

    The two love poems, “The Flea” by John Donne and “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell were written from the 1600s with the common goal of wooing their respective wives. In Donne's “The Flea,” the poet demonstrates his attempt to charm his wife by persuading her that they have already had sexual intercourse through the agency of an insect (the flea). The insect had bitten them both, consequently mixing their blood and invigorating the display of sex inside her body (perhaps this was the scientific understanding of "sex" at that time). In Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress," he uses time as a device in his quest for sentimental commitment. Time is his weapon in persuading his wife that they should share their adoration now, when they are both young and attractive. Although Donne's approach to persuading the lady differs essentially from Marvell's, both poems have a similar point and strive to achieve their common goal by using example, diction and structure in the body of the poems. The common subject, carpe diem (Latin: seize the day), is the central point of both poems, as is their most compelling resemblance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay First, both poems fundamentally use exemplification as an approach to create distinctive symbolism and convince the reader to grasp the carpe diem topic to achieve their goal. . In Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" he illustrates a period when he was trying to woo his wife. He composes lines loaded with generous symbolism to express what he has in mind to the reader. For example, he expresses: “But behind my back I always hear the winged chariot of Time rushing nearby.” This statement is a striking example of the use of personification in Marvell's poem and serves to mobilize the reader's aural sensation to create a distinctive and appealing image. Donne's sonnet "The Flea" uses the same abstract device in his play; in any case, it illustrates an insect that has bitten both the speaker and his potential sweetheart, contrary to time. For example, he states: “This flea is you and me, and this is our marriage bed and our marriage temple.” By saying that the flea is not only an “insect” but also their marriage bed, Donne viably used embodiment in his poem as a means of winning his polemic. While Donne illustrates an insect and Marvell represents time, both are effective in the use of this artistic instrument in their carpe diem poems. Second, the diction or style of a poem reveals what is imperative to the author and establishes its author's rhythm and state of mind. said poem. In Donne's poem, "The Flea," the author communicated his affection with a concise poem, describing precisely what he considered important in furthering his goal. Marvell's poem is a bit more, but at the same time brief enough that word decision is an important tool to remember. In both poems, the word decision is used to set the rhythm as well as to convince the reader. An instance of this is found in the first two lines of Donne's poem: “Notice this flea, and notice in this/How little you deny me; ". This is a true case of expression because, from the first lines of the poem, the poet is already trying to persuade the reader that the display of sex is about as immaterial in size as an insect. The author quickly captures the reader's attention and presents his argument in a few words. Marvell.