Comparing The Flea By John Donne And Andrew Marvell

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The art of seduction can be a complicated strategy. When restricted to words, most turn to the poem to give their mates the phrases to turn them on, and give the writers a good standing. When John Donne and and Andrew Marvell get behind the pen, Ladies should expect some wild literature coming their way. But only one of these writers stands a chance with their poems. In the essay I will be discussing how John Donne has a better chance at seducing a woman with “The flea” than Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” by contrast and comparison. I will also explain how Donne’s cleverness in writing makes him a good candidate, while Marvell’s advances can be seen as creepy.
John Donne may be onto something when writing “The Flea”. Depending on the …show more content…

This poem fits into an “uncanny valley” of creepiness, where it’s not so convoluted as to make someone laugh. But, it is just specific enough to scare a fair lady off. The poem is almost too straightforward on the sex and the fantasies that Marvell has are creepy. Marvell states “An hundred years should go to praise/ Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze/ Two hundred to adore each breast/ But thirty thousand to the rest”. This fantasy that he is describing to his potential suitor seems desperate and almost cheesy. When he says “And now, like amorous birds of prey/ Rather at once our time devour” he is rushing the woman into sex as if there is no time. This seems too desperate and he is coming on way too quickly. This method seems like it won’t work as well as “The Flea”.
“The Flea” and “To His Coy Mistress” share some qualities. Both share the same rhyme patterns and both are attempts at seduction. However, “The Flea” shows a particular scenario with a woman, while Marvell writes a poem that can be spoken to anyone. In Donne’s poem, the reader can see how quick he is to react to the woman trying to kill the flea. Donne make witty remarks and excuses on the spot showing cleverness. Marvell’s poem shows no proof of use and is very one sided to where only he is talking. This shows even more how much more

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