To The Virgins, To Make Much Of Time By Robert Herrick

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The philosophical ideology of carpe diem, also known as seize the day, is often promoted to the younger generations. In “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” Robert Herrick encourages the notion of using one's times when young specifically to the younger ladies. He concludes that young women should venture into their love life to ultimately get married. He persuades the younger audience to reap the benefits of their youth with the use of symbolism, allusion, metaphor, and assonance.
Herrick's use of flower symbolism with regards to time allows the readers to gain a visualization of how time quickly runs out: “Gather[ing] ye rosebuds while ye may / Old Time is still a-flying” (Line 1-2). Young ladies should be exploiting their desirability by going on dates before their beauty withers away with time. Although they are lively, youth is only momentary, and they will lose their charm as time passes by: “This same flower that smiles today / Tomorrow will be dying” (3-4). The readers cognize that youth only lasts for a short time. Consequently, the young ladies will come to regret not taking the chances that they could have taken. …show more content…
The use of the sun references Apollo, who is the God of Sun that rises and sets the sun with a chariot. Apollo’s duty is a race that comes to an end when he gets closer to setting the sun: “The higher he’s a-getting, / The sooner will his race be run, / And nearer he’s to setting” (6-8). As the sun gets closer to setting, the day will cease, causing one to be older. Time is a relentless process that cannot be put to a halt; therefore, there is not much time before these young ladies reach a point in their lives where they will lose the allure they once had. This warns the readers that they need to make the most out of their
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