To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time Themes
The main themes in To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time are carpe diem and the transient nature of beauty.
- Carpe diem: The speaker urges the virgins to make the most of their youth while they still can.
- The transient nature of beauty: Physical beauty is not everlasting and will eventually fade.
Carpe Diem
The Latin phrase “carpe diem” means “seize the day.” This philosophy highlights that life is often shorter than we perceive, urging us to make the most of our time. Those who follow this belief focus on the present, rather than dwelling on the unchangeable past or the uncertain future. The idea of “living deep” and “sucking the marrow out of life,” as expressed by Henry David Thoreau, frequently appears in the works of Herrick and many poets from the seventeenth century. Herrick’s poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” embodies this philosophy by urging young, innocent “virgins” to fully embrace their present moments before their youth fades away.
The opening line of the poem, “Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,” uses rosebuds as a metaphor to encourage the virgins to seize romantic opportunities while they can, because “Old time is still a-flying.” In this context, “still” means “always,” stressing the unending passage of time. The present is filled with flowers that “smile” in their beauty and the “glorious lamp of Heaven, the Sun,” but these will also fade over time. In what seems like just a day, the flowers will “be dying” and the sun’s “race” will be “run.” As Feste, the jester in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, sings, “Youth’s a stuff will not endure.”
The speaker claims that the current phase of life, where the virgins find themselves, is the “best.” He believes their “youth and blood are warmer,” indicating that their passion and emotions are at their peak and should be directed toward the pursuit of love. Once their fleeting youth is “spent,” life will gradually decline until reaching old age, portrayed here as the “worst” stage of life. If the virgins remain “coy” and flirtatious without committing to marriage, the speaker warns they will eventually become old maids, forever lamenting the wasted time they can never recover. For the speaker, adopting the “carpe diem” philosophy is the only logical choice for the virgins.
The Transient Nature of Beauty
Age is frequently viewed as a source of wisdom, a notion Herrick would likely agree with. Yet, the wisdom that comes with age is balanced by a decrease in physical allure. While focusing on physical appearance might appear shallow to some readers, the speaker in “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” emphasizes that beauty, much like youth, is transient and does not return once it fades. The virgins are urged to gather rosebuds because the rose is an unmistakable symbol of beauty; if the speaker had said “Gather ye orchids while ye may,” the message would have been less clear. Similarly, the speaker describes the sun as the “glorious lamp of heaven”—a representation of divine beauty—only to point out that it is nearing sunset. Although some might contend that more rosebuds will bloom and the sun will rise again, Herrick’s argument is that physical beauty is akin to a single rosebud and a single day—once it’s lost, it’s lost forever. While more rosebuds will bloom and new days will dawn, physical beauty does not last. The virgins are the ones truly “dying” in this context.
The poem concludes by emphasizing the importance of physical beauty for virgins who are yet unmarried. Once they have “lost but once” their “prime,” they “may forever tarry.” A person’s physical “prime” endures only for a limited time; the phrase “lost but once” implies that once this prime has passed, it is irretrievable. At that juncture, the hesitant virgins may “forever tarry” (as they do now) because they will have lost their physical beauty and, consequently, their attraction to men. Thus, through...
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an ironic suggestion, the speaker seeks to make the virgins aware of the fleeting nature of beauty, which they mistakenly believe to be everlasting and unchanging.
Sexual Themes and Gender Perspectives
The exploration of sexual themes within literature often invites multifaceted interpretations, reflecting the complex interplay between gender and sexuality. The classic poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" serves as a rich tapestry for such examination, where the symbolism of gathering rosebuds and the rising sun conveys deeper meanings contingent on the perceived gender of the reader.
For a male reader, the act of gathering rosebuds might be perceived as a metaphor for defloration, where the imagery of the rising sun parallels male erection. The use of the term "spend" could be interpreted as a reference to ejaculation. In this reading, the implications are not merely sensual but carry a sexually threatening undertone. The act of defloration suggests a forceful taking of virginity, akin to rape, an idea reinforced by the allusion to Apollo, the sun god known for his attempts at ravishment. Thus, "To the Virgins" might echo the fervor of Henry the Fifth's rallying cry "into the breach!" from Shakespeare's Henry V, symbolizing a call to action for men. Here, the focus is on the loss of male potency, with warnings that women may age before any pleasure can be extracted, that the "sun"—representing vitality—will set prematurely, and that the vigor of youth and sexual drive will inevitably wane. The presence of "Old Time" personified recalls Chronos, the god who famously seized power through castration, further emphasizing the themes of power and loss.
Conversely, if the poem is read as an address to female virgins, the gathering of rosebuds transforms into an act of preservation rather than loss. In this light, it symbolizes the collection and safeguarding of one's own virginity. The sun god Apollo has a twin: Artemis, the moon goddess, revered for her chastity and often depicted as the "Queen and huntress, chaste and fair," as celebrated by Ben Jonson in his "Hymn to Diana" from Cynthia’s Revels. Artemis embodies the strength of female celibacy, rising as the force of male dominance wanes. Here, virginity represents a form of power and currency for women, something to be cherished and protected, rather than relinquished or "spent."
By examining these dual interpretations, the poem reveals the nuanced discourse around gender and sexuality. It underscores how the same symbols can convey vastly different meanings based on the reader's perspective, highlighting the dynamic tension between male and female experiences. This layered understanding invites ongoing reflection on how literary symbols negotiate themes of power, sexuality, and identity across different contexts.
Societal Decline
The poem reflects a profound concern about the broader societal trends rather than merely individual experience. This worry becomes particularly evident in the third stanza, where "age" and "times" can be interpreted as references to the epochs of human existence. Through this lens, the poem suggests that a civilization reaches its peak during its youth, and thereafter, it inevitably enters a phase of decline. This interpretation highlights Herrick's lament for his contemporary society, wistfully reflecting on what he perceives to have been lost over time. The imagery of fleeting youth and the urgency of seizing the moment underscore a nostalgia for a bygone era of vibrancy and promise, contrasting sharply with the poet's view of a deteriorating present."
