Comparative Essay - John Donne's the Flea and Andrew Marvell's to His Coy Mistress

ASSESSMENT 2 - 1000 Word Reflection

Throughout history, existential exploration has become a common aspect within favoured production forms. During the 17th Century, metaphysical poets produced witty yet intellectually rigorous discussions investigating the world and its phenomena. These poets applied sophisticated techniques to their poetry, creating original pieces that featured conceits (extended metaphors), syllogisms, paradox, hyperboles and graphic imagery in a dramatic style. John Donne’s The Flea and Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress present these characteristics in attempt to persuade women to engage in carnal activity using similar techniques.

These texts display numerous similarities in context, structure, technique and intention. Both poets were English and lived within the 17th century and were greatly influenced by religion: Donne was initially Catholic but converted to Anglicanism and became Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, Marvell was the son of the Church of England’s clergyman. Both poems feature dramatic monologue, rhyming couplets allowing the reader to follow the argument within the texts freely, and iambic tetrameter, although The Flea contains a combination of iambic tetrameter and pentameter. The poems also introduce new ideas at different stages; Marvell presents new ideas for each stanza whilst Donne utilises each new rhyme.

Similarities are displayed through use of techniques – both poems utilise a dramatic style, graphic imagery, hyperboles, conceits, syllogism, and contrasting elements such as tone. Donne begins by belittling the act of sex by comparing it to a flea, a creature that was commonplace on people of any status at the time. “Me it suck’d first and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;” (2-3). This attempt of lessening the value of the woman’s virginity is poor as the woman would strongly disagree. Marvell begins using the contrasting technique of flattery and lack of time to persuade – “But at my back I always hear times winged Chariot hurrying near.” (21-22). He honours the woman’s virginity and states that he is willing to wait “Till the conversion of Jews” (10), a Biblical event that is claimed to never occur. The speaker then changes his perspective, signified by a quickened tone. He becomes desperate for the woman and uses death to persuade. He claims the woman will be wasted without his courtship. “…Then worms shall try that long preserved virginity, And your quaint honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust;” (27-30). This is an attempt of black mailing the woman to satisfy his own desires. Alike Donne, Marvell makes the woman’s desire to maintain her honour seem childish and unnecessary. He uses the word “quaint”, describing her actions as old fashioned and out of style. He then returns to flattery in his last stanza in order to make amends to the woman describing her as “youthful”, but the admiration seems to be wasted as it seems superficial and less meaningful due to his previous argumentation. Donne also follows the use of a kind of flattery in order to persuade the woman he desires. He uses death as a metaphor for male climax, in which he claims would make him powerless over the woman if she were to achieve this. The flea is now made small due to this claim, and Donne claims that she will not lose her honour – “Just so much honour, when thou yield’st to me, Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.” (26-27). The persuasions demonstrate purpose through use of similar techniques and structure.