Carpe Diem

The theme in To His Coy Mistress is Carpe Diem. Carpe Diem means "save the day." Marvell talks about how the woman should take her chance and not let the time slip away because as he says in the poem "Had we but world enough, and time," there is not enough time in the world because time is limited. However, Marvell is not only referring to women but he is also referring to humanity and to not let any opportunities slip by and not let time take over ones life. People need to take the reigns to their life and not let age and time control and sway where their life is going. Moreover, "Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run" further underscores that although we cannot control time and and nature's toll on us, humans, we can prevent time's creeping decrepitude. In the quote, he is referring to the sun as time and natures discourse, he is also using we to represent humanity. Therefore, Marvell demonstrates in To His Coy Mistress that humanity can not let any opportunities slide by and that we need to have a firm grip on our life.