To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell and Our Love Now by Martyn

To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell and Our Love Now by Martyn

Lowery both see men trying to use methods of persuasion to get what

they want. How successful are they?

I have recently studied ‘To His Coy Mistress’ by Andrew Marvell,

written in the 17th Century and ‘Our Love Now’ by Martyn Lowery,

written in the 19th century. Attitudes to love have changed a lot

since the 17th Century. When ‘To His Coy Mistress’ was written, men

were in charge of the relationship. It would take a lot longer for

this relationship to progress than it would today. The man would court

the woman for months before anything progressed. He would write her

letters and poems, and then eventually, if he loved her, he would ask

her to marry him. They would not make love until they were married, as

sex outside of marriage was frowned upon. However, today a

relationship before marriage can be any length of time and there is no

one in charge of it as men and women are more equal in today’s

society.

‘To His Coy Mistress’ is a poem about a man trying to persuade a shy

woman to have sex with him. In the first section he romances her,

convinces her that he respects her, tells her she is beautiful and how

he adores her. In the second section he scares her. He says that life

is short and all they have to look forward to is death. In the third

part he persuades the woman by telling her that she should make the

most of time and to speed it up, not waste it.

‘Our Love Now’ is a poem about a man trying to persuade a woman that

they should persevere with their relationship. He uses metaphors as a

key method of persuasion. However we have the woman’s reply, and she

clearly does not feel the same way, she thinks their relationship is

over. Ev...

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... very strong, consistent argument, allowing no

time for the woman to sort out in her own head, her feelings for him.

The way the argument is constructed implies he is forcing her to have

sexual relations. He does not give her a choice, but uses his power

over her to get his own way. I think he almost bullies her into making

love to him as he never stops bombarding her with his opinions. In ‘To

His Coy Mistress’ the poet uses a variety of methods. The way the poem

is constructed makes it sound as if it is written flippantly, but the

reader can see through him. I don’t think the woman would see this as

it is covered by clever examples. However, after studying the poem you

can see this. He makes her feel secure, makes her think he loves her

and tells her what he wants yet does not put it so bluntly that in

undermines his otherwise very successful persuasions.