Carpe Diem

The Latin term carpe diem is a descriptive word for literature that presses readers to

"seize the moment." 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 l

life itself.