Attitudes, themes and ideas
Religion
The poem challenges religious ideas. He speaks of making the most of life because "yonder all before us lie / Deserts of vast eternity". He is suggesting that there is nothing after life - so waiting and resisting urges in life is pointless.
Time
In poetry, especially love poetry, time is personifiedA type of imagery in which non-human objects, animals or ideas are given human characteristics. as being the enemy of lovers. Time will bring death, the awareness of which is always with the speaker, "at my back I always hear / Time's winged chariot hurrying near". A chariot is an old type of carriage pulled by horses, commonly associated with war.
The final rhyming coupletIn poetry, a pair of lines that rhyme and have the same length and metric pattern. is hopeful of the lovers' chances of making the most of life, "though we cannot make our sun / Stand still, yet we will make him run". The word "will" is definite - the couplet acknowledges that both time and death are inevitable Certain to happen; unavoidable., whilst at the same time suggesting that action and determination are the best approaches.
Seize the day
The poem is a famous example of the classical idea of ‘carpe diem’ or ‘seize the day’. The speaker is urging his mistress to make the best of life by living it to the full and not simply waiting for death. It is pointless to deny pleasures.
This idea clashes with one of the popular movements of the 17th century, Puritanism Puritans were strict Protestants who followed the Bible closely and tried to live simple, plain lives. They believed that hard work and worship combined was the way to heaven. They therefore did not approve of anything that prevented worship and work.. Its followers emphasised the importance of denying personal pleasures - especially those considered to be in any way sinful.
