Mrs. Jennie Green
British Literature
May 2, 2015
Carpe Diem Essay
The Latin term carpe diem is a descriptive word for literature that presses readers to "seize the day." It mainly tries to pursue a woman or women that they have true physical beauty and should take advantage of their good looks now before time will take a toll on them. The word carpe diem puts impact on examples of both poems of, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick, and "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell. Herrick's poem, "To The Virgins, to Make Much of Time," portrays carpe diem by citing the shortness of life and persuading young women to marry and enjoy the life of youth at its advantage before death takes its turn. In the poem "To His Coy Mistress", Marvell consist more traits of carpe diem by persuading a certain woman in being his wife. He uses examples of time and age diminishing her beauty and youth and will leave her with nothing left. They both compare to each other by making the most of each moment before old age and beauty disappears. Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" fits the meaning of carpe diem by encouraging the beauty of youth and life itself. His calm and moralizing detachment from the personal environment pursues his own view of time and life. “Then not be coy but use your time, and, while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime you may forever tarry. “ He urges young virgins to be held in the hand of marriage to fulfill life. Love life, marry life. He encourages young women to experience life to the fullest extent of their existence. If they don't take up that chance then they might have to wait on for a long time. It's hard to fine good opportunities, and therefore, Herrick exalts women to "seize the moment" in life itself. Nevertheless he wants women to marry but stay a virgin for once it's used up it will be lost forever. “The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, the higher he's a-getting,