Level: B.A/ B.B.S || Lesson 43 To His Coy Mistress (Andrew Marvell, England 1621-1678)
Words Meaning
Coy = shy
Germ stone = coral
Mistress = beloved
Coyness = shyness
Conversion = religion change
Empire = kingdom
Thy = your
Adore = like very much
Thine = your
State = condition
Preserved = protected
Lust = sexual desire
Hue = color
Pore = small hole in skin for hair
Instant = immediately
Sport = amuse
Languish = experience of long suffering
Gaze = look
Quaint = strange
Strike = conflict
Virginity = fidelity
Summary
Here, the poet Andrew Marvell says if they had enough time and space, his beloved’s coyness wasn’t bad. They would sit and plan how to make fun and enjoy. The beloved would be on the bank of river. Ganges and the lover would on the bank of river-Humber in England. He would praise his beloved’s beautiful body organs. But the poet says that they don’t’ have enough time to enjoy much. He says that the chariot of time doesn’t wait. Their beauty will fade up along the passing time. They don’t have enough time to make fun. Time will make them old and their sexual desire will also die gradually. Her beloved will be in her private place i.e. in the grave. Nobody will came there to kiss and embrace there. Their virginity will disappear soon. So he requests his beloved to enjoy as much they can by collecting their strength and sweetness. He also requests his beloved to come to him to make joy.
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Four Level of Interpretation
Literal Comprehension
Here, the poet Andrew Marvell says if they had enough time and space, his beloved’s coyness wasn’t bad. They would sit and plan how to make fun and enjoy. The beloved would be on the bank of river. Ganges and the lover would on the bank of river-Humber in England. He would praise his beloved’s beautiful body organs. But the poet says that they don’t’ have enough time to enjoy much. He says that the chariot of time doesn’t wait. Their beauty will fade up along the passing time. They don’t have enough time to make fun. Time will make them old and their sexual desire will also die gradually. Her beloved will be in her private place i.e. in the grave. Nobody will came there to kiss and embrace there. Their virginity will disappear soon. So he requests his beloved to enjoy as much they can by collecting their strength and sweetness. He also requests his beloved to come to him to make joy.
Interpretation
The writer says that time is powerful. Our beauty, power, etc. dies along with time. He says that youth is the greatest part of life. We should enjoy in youth. We enjoy our beloveds or lovers when we are young. the in the youth our body is full of passion and strength. We have also sexual desire in youth. But these above things die along with the passing time. He tries to show that beauty and youth don’t last long. They died before we die. He suggests youth to utilize their youth. Because we don’t’ have enough tune it enjoy.
Critical Thinking
This poem is related to emotions, feelings and imagination. The poet takes love as passion. There is presence of hyperboles and exaggeration in this poem. But I don’t agree with the poet when he used love as physical and sexual love.
Assimilation
When I read this poem, it made me conscious about the passing time. I understood that we should utilize the time properly so that we can enjoy life with beloveds or lovers. Otherwise these sexual lust will die soon when we grow old. It will change into dream
Possible Question
- In your view does the poet give equal weight to the two sides of the issue in the poem. “To his coy mistress”? Do you agree with the narrator? If you were coy mistress in would you accept his proposal?
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