Poem The Speaker example essay topic

Life is to Short The gift of life is a precious and wonderful experience. Often times, life is just too short and we leave the world without accomplishing many of our goals. People should strive to accomplish as much as they can in their lives. Life should not be viewed as a struggle to survive but rather a time to pursue many opportunities. In the poem "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell, the speaker is seen as trying to convince a woman to have sex with him.

She tells him she is a virgin and does not want to have sex. The speaker then tells the women that there is no reason to wait because life is to short and one day the opportunity will be gone. Throughout the poem the speaker uses sex as a metaphor to describe life's opportunities. What the speaker is saying is that life is too brief to be conservative. Life is too short to waste time so we should make the best of what we have left. Throughout the poem, the speaker is literally trying to get a woman to have sex with him.

She says no, but he continues to try and persuade her into his bed. The reference to sex is continuous throughout the poem. The speaker uses sex as a metaphor for any adventure in life. He says that there is no reason for her not to have sex with him because she will one day lose the opportunity.

Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long-preserved virginity, And your quaint honor turn to dust, (26-29) In this quote the author is saying that people should not wait to do something because they will eventually run out of time. He uses the word virginity to describe a goal that someone has yet to attempt to accomplish. The speaker calls her effort to remain abstinent quaint saying that she should go ahead and have sex before its too late. He also mentions "thy marble vault" (25) which is a symbol for her grave.

Marvell uses the phrase "Time's winged chariot hurrying near" (22) as a Metaphor to death. He is saying he will soon be dead and doesn't have time to waste. Marvell uses many metaphors throughout the poem to help express to the reader that our time on earth is limited. Andrew Marvell is saying that we can not control times; time controls us. The poem begins with the speaker telling his mistress that if we did have all the time we wanted, we could take our time and make our love last forever. He goes on to tell her that he wishes he could take his time and love every part of her for a long period of time.

An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. (13-18) The speaker is telling the woman how he wishes he could spend many lifetimes loving her. He is telling her how he would adore each part of her for a lifetime and be in love forever. He tells her she deserves to be loved no less than this. In the second half of the poem, the speaker changes to a more logical attitude.

He begins to tell her that we do not have all that time because time is running out. He tells her that she should not wait because she will one day regret it. If someone goes though life to conservatively they will one day look back on their life and regret not taking any risks. Then he says that the time is now. 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, (33-36) The speaker is saying that she might as well do "it" now while she is young and desirable.

If she waits, then there will be a lot of wasted time and it will no longer be as good as it once could have been. He then goes on to say, why should we always do what is right. We should do what ever we like because we may not get the chance again. During the course of our lives there are certain goals that we wish to accomplish. There are also many different experiences that we would like to enjoy. What Marvell is saying in this poem is do not put off doing something.

There is no better time now. Metaphors play a major role in this poem. Marvell use lots of different effects to make references to life and death. He shows us that life is too precious to waste so we should take advantage of every opportunity. When someone dies he should not feel like there was anything left undone or something he will regret not doing.