century. A carpe diem attitude, often expressed as “sieze the day”, encourages a person

to act on opportunities as they present themselves, and to live life to fullest come what

may. Poems reflecting the carpe diem theme focus on youth as the prime of life “That

age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer” (Robert Herrick “To the

Virgins, to make much of Time”). When one considers this definition, I think it is

possible to draw both positive and negative conclusions about the carpe diem way of

This essay will deal with both the possitive and negative interpretations of the carpe diem

motif in the “The Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvel and “To the Virgins” by Robert

Herrick where the treatment of this theme is explicit.

The carpe diem theme in its most possitive context encourages us to, take advantage of

windows of opportunity in our lives, to “seize the day” so to speak. These windows of

opportunity, which are short, are illustrated in both Herrick’s “Virgin”, and Marvel’s

A realistic feeling of urgency to act is imediately is reflecte

At every pore with instant fires...

Flood”, and finally to the Last Judgement - “...conversion of the Jews.”. The problem is,

impulsive actions. The lines “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still

Negative aspects of the carpe diem theme in the above poems of Herrick and Marvell are

life often involves the courage to take risks, to act on ones impulses and urges.

Some topics in this essay:
Coy Mistress”, Robert Herrick, Jews” Fear, Robert Herick’s, Jews” Marvell, Reply Sheepheard”, Herrick Marvell, , Virgins Time”, carpe diem, Andrew Marvel’s, diem theme, carpe diem theme, coy mistress”, carpe diem motif, fear tactics, lady poem, “to virgins”, andrew marvel’s, co-erce lady, “the coy, “the coy mistress”, “seize day”, co-erce lady poem, sun stand run”,