Summary:
William Shakespeare’s poem “Sonnet 29”, and Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”, have quite a few similarities. The most common being the theme of love. Shakespeare and Marvell put the most powerful of all human emotions into words in these poems.
“Themes of Love”
William Shakespeare’s poem “Sonnet 29”, and Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”, have quite a few similarities. The most common being the theme of love. Shakespeare and Marvell put the most powerful of all human emotions into words in these poems. “Sonnet 29” is a poem in which the speaker complains about his misfortunes until “thee” comes to mind, and his state is instantly transformed. “To His Coy Mistress” is a poem meant to convince the speaker’s mistress to let go of her inhibitions, while incorporating the theme of Carpe Diem. These poets use similar strategies of figurative language, while each poem’s message is uniquely different.
Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 29” employs the basic 14-line iambic pentameter structure of a sonnet. As we begin to read this poem, the speaker is complaining, in an almost whining manner, about his outcast state; which could bear some resemblance to Shakespeare’s unhappiness in his own life. In line 4, “I look upon myself and curse my fate” (Shakespeare 1:4), Shakespeare illustrates his unhappiness. His life in the theater or his so-called bisexuality could be factors causing him disdain, although this is not factual because his sonnets have not proved to be autobiographical. (Thompson-Gale 1) His initial cause of pain is not revealed in this poem, but is instantly transformed upon thinking of ‘thee”.
In lines 1-7, the speaker complains of how he wishes to be rich in hope, featured like him with friends possessed, and desires to have the scope and art of other men. Then, in line 8, an apparent paradox is presented, “With what I most enjoy contented least.”(Shakespeare 2:8) This is Shakespeare’s version of the cliché that the grass is always greener on the other side, meaning that whatever brought happiness to the speaker before was no longer desirable. (Thompson-Gale 1) In the speaker’s lowest point of self-wallowing, he has a sudden change of heart; he thinks of “thee” and is instantly elated. This is brought to light in line 10, “Haply I think of thee: and then my state”. (Shakespeare 3:8) Perhaps “thee” is a special friend of the opposite sex. The identity of “thee” is not explained in this poem, so the reader is left to ponder whether ‘thee” is of the opposite sex or a god.
When the speaker thinks of his sweet love, he feels he is wealthier than those he had envied before. In lines 9-10, the speaker uses a simile to compare his state with a lark’s ascending flight. This line suggests that his state has become unearthly, and stands apart from all of humanity. (Thompson-Gale 1) In lines 13-14, the speaker explains that because he has the memory of such a special friend, he would not change his state with kings. The speaker’s state has moved dramatically from miserable hopelessness to pure ecstasy. Though he now stands separate from humankind, he now does so by choice. (Thompson-Gale 1)
Though Shakespeare’s poem glorifies “Thee”, Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”, speaks of love in a different manner. The poem is about letting go of what holds us down, and seizing the day. The speaker’s urgency is communicated well with the use of verbal irony. What makes this poem interesting and complex is Marvell’s use of rhetoric, or the art of persuasion. (Meyer 1) In the opening lines of the poem, the speaker states his argument; He explains that if time were limitless, his mistress could be coy for ages. In lines 11-17, using hyperbole, he explains how he would love his mistress if time allowed. He would devote ages to each part of her body, beginning with her eyes and ending at her heart. In lines 19-20, the speaker explains why he must love his mistress in this way, “For, lady you deserve this state/ Nor would I love at lower rate.”(Marvell 1:19-20) This process of admiration is also similar to works of Marvell’s time such as Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130”. Shakespeare uses the line, “My Mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.”(Shakespeare 1:1) The “top to bottom” admiration of the body is also similar to love poetry found in the bible. (Meyer 2)
In the second stanza, the speaker persuades with urgency for his mistress to abandon her coyness. He explains that, “times winged chariot is hurrying near” (Marvell 2:21), and they must consummate their relationship before it is too late. This awareness of time is similar to Juliet’s fear of the lark singing at daybreak in Romeo and Juliet. (Meyer 2) In lines 31-32, the speaker uses paradox to explain to his lover that after death they can no longer be together.
In the third stanza of this poem, the speaker returns to the opening theme of urgency in the face of time. He pleads with his mistress to seize the day, while she is still youthful and full of life. He goes on to explain that they must take time for all it’s worth. This concept of devouring time is borrowed from Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 19”. In lines 1-2, the speaker states, “Devouring time, blunt thou the lions paws/and make the earth devour her own sweet brood.”(Shakespeare 1:1) This line, like Marvell’s, suggests conquering time. In line 38, the speaker uses the paradox, “Amorous birds of prey” (Marvell 2:38), as an illustration that he and his mistress must become fierce and live life to it’s fullest. In lines 41-44, he explains that they must roll themselves up into one ball of passion and burst through the iron gates of life. In the last two lines of the poem, the speaker restates that he and his mistress cannot change time, but if they combine into one, they can make time chase them.
Both of these poems speak of love in different ways. Shakespeare explains how “thee” can change his state to that of kings using figurative language. On the other hand, Marvell uses a rhetorical strategy to convince his coy mistress to abandon her virginity, and seize the day. The messages in these two poems differ, but both convey the powerful nature of love.
Works Cited
Guth Hans P., & Gabrielle Rico eds. Discovering Literature: Stories, Poems, and Plays.
Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc, 2003
Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress”. Guth & Rico. 896
Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 29”. Guth & Rico. 731
Marbillard, Amanda. Trans. Shakespeare-online. 29 July 2003. 21 March 2006
“Translation and Analysis of Sonnet 19”. Shakespeare-online.com
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/19.html
“Translation and Analysis of Sonnet CXXX”. Shakespeare-online.com.
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/130.html
Meyer, Bruce. “Critical Essay on To His Coy Mistress”. Poetry for Students. Vol.5. Gale 1999. Literature
and Resource Center. Gale Group. Northeast State Community
College. 21 March 2006.
http://www.Northeaststate.edu
Thompson-Gale. “Overview: Sonnet 29, by William Shakespeare. Poetry For Students. Vol.8.
Gale Group, 2000. Literature and Resource Center. Gale Group. Northeast State Community College. 21 March 2006.
http://www.Northeaststate.edu
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