Final answer:
In 'To His Coy Mistress,' the speaker suggests dealing with the swift passage of time by seizing the present and indulging in love and sensual pleasures before it's too late, using the urgency of inevitable aging and death to persuade his mistress to embrace the moment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speaker in Andrew Marvell’s poem 'To His Coy Mistress' suggests dealing with the swift passage of time by making the most of the present and indulging in love and sensual pleasures while they still can. He articulates a sense of urgency, emphasizing that life is short and that they should seize the day (“carpe diem”). The speaker makes a compelling argument using vivid imagery of time's relentless march, such as “Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near”, to persuade his mistress to abandon her coyness and enjoy the physical aspect of their love before it is too late and they are overtaken by death.
He evokes the temporality of life and beauty, and in the final lines, he suggests that in response to the inevitability of aging and death, they should be proactive in their love. The speaker advises to “use your time” wisely, as once youth and beauty have faded, the opportunities for such pleasures may be lost forever. In essence, the poem is a call to action against the encroachment of time by embracing and cherishing the present joyful moments.