Andrew Marvell Q: Consider Andrew Marvell to be a metaphysical poet.

The abrupt and striking beginning is a common aspect of metaphysical poetry that we find in Marvell’s poetry. Let us quote the beginning two lines from “To His Coy Mistress”:

                  “Had we but world enough and Time,

                   This coyness Lady were no crime.”

Such kind of abrupt beginning must arrest the attention of the readers instantly to go into the depth of the theme.

                             Another aspect of metaphysical poetry is the use of colloquial language in a dramatic tone and Marvell’s poetry is no exception. He uses the familiar and simple conversational style of language very effectively. This trial is also found in the following lines:

                    “Thou by the Indian Ganges side

                      Should’st Rubies find: I by the Tide

                     Of Humber would complain.”

An important characteristic of metaphysical poetry is the argumentative presentation of the theme, and Marvell never fails to exploit this device in his poetry. To express their spiritual love which has separated two lovers, Marvell has shown some argument in the following lines of “The Definition of Love”:

                    “As lines so Loves oblique may well

                     Themselves in every Angle greet:

                     But ours so truly paralel,

                     Through infinite can never meet.”

Argument and reason can further noticed in “To His Coy Mistress”:

                   “The Graves a fine and private place

                     But none I think do there embrace.”

In “To His Coy Mistress”, Marvell has used Carpe Diem theme in a syllogistic way implying condition with if; contradiction with but and solution with therefore.