Dr.+Coffman



To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
by Robert Herrick media type="custom" key="10507328" align="center"

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The allusion to Helios presented in the second stanza highlights the theme of time. Helios crossed the heavens each day in a fiery chariot, "rising" high at noon, and "setting" at night. As the title indicates, the passage of time is inevitable, and we must "seize the day" to make the most of the little time we have. The speaker encourages the young virgins to marry, an acceptable path to pleasure. If they delay in this, they could lose their chance at pleasure because once they lose their youthful beauty and energy, no one will want to marry them. The high sun at noon represents the height of life; the setting sun represents death. Also, the passage of time is described as a "race"; it moves swiftly.

This poem has some truth in it; however I disagree with other parts. The carpe diem theme, in some ways, is a good motto for life. We shouldn't make hasty decisions, but we shouldn't let fear stand in our way either. Obviously, marriage is not the key to happiness, judging by the high divorce rate; still, if we find the right person, a marriage relationship can provide many years of happiness and companionship. In many cases, I do believe that our youth is the best time of our lives; however, I also think wisdom and experience can make our later years satisfying. Still, the "worse and worst times" referred to in the poem are a reality. With age comes sickness, and our experiences and wisdom can often provide a depressing perspective our world.

Sources: "'To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time' Notes." //Elements of Literature: Sixth Course.// Eds. Mairead Stack and Leslie Griffin. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2000. Print.

