Virginity

One idea the poem is particularly concerned with is the preservation or loss of virginity. The central plot is that the speaker is attempting to convince his mistress, a young woman who has thus far not engaged in sexual activity, to have sex with him. To understand this theme, it is helpful to have a working understanding of the role of virginity in early modern English culture.

Women, particularly noble women, were expected to be virgins until they were married. However, the actual rate of premarital sex in early modern England was fairly high, and it was not unusual for couples to consummate a relationship prior to marriage. This is particularly true for people of the laboring classes, whether peasant farmers or artisans. The preservation of female virginity until marriage was considered important for three interrelated reasons: the distribution of property, religious expectations about chastity, and...