The Theme of Carpe Diem in Robert Herrick's To the Virgins to Make Much of Time

The Theme of Carpe Diem in Robert Herrick's To the Virgins to Make Much of Time

Robert Herrick's poem, "To the Virgins to Make Much of Time," focuses on the idea of carpe diem. More specifically, in this poem the idea of marriage while love and flesh are still young should be heeded or one may suffer in their later years alone and loveless. Herrick suggests that this gift of virginity might be a great waste if not given while it is still desirable. Virginity is a gift for the simple reason that it can only be given once to the taker of the prize, which he believes should be the husband. Therefore, he says to go out and find husbands, for youth is not perpetual and will eventually succumb to old age and loneliness. Through Herrick's use of colorful imagery and personification, the reader detects a sense of urgency and duty for the virgins to go forth and marry while time is still at hand and love is bountiful, thus creating the overall idea of carpe diem.

The first stanza of the poem opens to the personification of the flowers as the virgins:

Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a flying:

And this same flower that smiles today,

To morrow will be dying. (ll. 1-4)

The rosebuds correspond to the virgins in that they are beautiful and delicate, yet they have not reached their full potential and maturity by becoming full bloomed roses. Time is also personified as, "Old Time," which suggests a genial greybeard more than a grim reaper (Rollin 83). Time is still "a flying" suggests a comical image more than ominous but still one of urgency (Rollin 83). The image of the smiling flower indicates innocence and freshness but it only "smiles today, To morrow [it] will be dying." A grim and abrupt end comes to t...

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...s across his idea of carpe diem in a very understandable way. The images used were easily comprehended, and the poem was often comical. His advice is very typical of a charismatic man who easily can manipulate words in his favor. One illustration that came across from this poem was one of entertainment, and not surprisingly mostly on the behalf of men. I can imagine the laughter this poem would draw from women in a bar if a man attempted to use these arguments as pick-up lines. Yet, the message does have a serious light in that time should not be taken for granted. Something that one may possess today, such as beauty or youthfulness, will eventually succumb to old age. Experience things while they are still fresh and untouched, for later on one may regret not having done so.

Works Cited

Rollin, Roger B. Robert Herrick. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992. 83-84.