Carpe diem: seizing the moment in classical philosophy

"A&P" by John Updike and "To his coy mistress" by Andrew Marvell

Carpe Diem ("Seize the day"): Living for the present, realizing the future in "A&P" by John Updike and "To his coy mistress" by Andrew Marvell

Literature, as one of the most important works of human culture, essentially reflects the everyday human life, wherein social realities are interpreted subjectively by the writer. As a reflector of social realities in human society, literary works also have the function to mobilize or to infuse new ideologies, thoughts, or sentiments that allows individuals to create changes within themselves and the society.

Examples of such literary works are "A&P" by John Updike and "To his coy mistress" by Andrew Marvell. In "A&P," Updike elucidates on the reality of an individual who attempts to stand up for his own opinion and belief despite the opposition that he faces in his society. Similarly, Marvell in his romantic poem characterizes Time as humanity's enemy in allowing people to fully enjoy and experience life, and in the context of his poem, to pursue love as he (the poet) feels it. Both literary works suggests a sense of urgency to accomplish important plans that the protagonist (of "A&P") and the Voice ("To his coy mistress") tried to realize.

Indeed, this theme of urgency and accomplishing an important task to be done, or sentiment or belief to be expressed, emerges in both literary works. In this paper, carpe diem, which means, "seizing the day," is the dominant theme that is discussed to illustrate how the main characters of Updike's and Marvell's works had lived for the present -- that is, they were able to fully express themselves despite obstacles encountered -- in order to gain self-realization and become prepared for the future.

In "A&P," readers are acquainted with the character of Sammy, a teenager who works at A&P, and is characterized by Updike as an individual who has no clear ambitions, looks with blatant interest at young women, but is also firm and resolute with his opinion, beliefs, and decisions in life. In effect, Sammy's character has two facets: Sammy as the A&P employee who has simple joys and shallow aspirations in life; and Sammy as the firm and resolute believer for what he perceives as morally upright opinions and sentiments.

This conflicting nature of Sammy's character generated both success and failure in his attempt to defend the bathing suit-clad young women customers at A&P, who were reprimanded by Sammy's superior for their being 'indecent' (since they were just wearing bathing suits while buying at the store). Although Sammy had playfully leered at the young women, he considered his manager's reprimand as embarrassing and inappropriate for them, and thus, he speaks up for them, mainly to at least impress the young women for his courage to stand up for them. In this event, he "seizes the day," and takes the opportunity to speak out what is his opinion about the said incident. However, his efforts became futile when his courageous defense were not heard, even witnessed, by the young women he was trying to defend.

It may seem that Sammy, by choosing to argue against his manager and declaring that he is quitting his job, had committed a grave mistake. This mistake may be construed as a fleeting sense of 'chivalry' that the protagonist felt at the time, having been attracted to "Queenie" and empathizing with their youth and free-spiritedness. However, analyzing what had just happened in Sammy's life, he did not lose any opportunities at all. Despite his failed attempt to impress the young women on his version of "modern-day chivalry," his standing up for his belief and opinion about the issue against Lengel, the manager, made him realize that there is more to be expected of him than to work in a menial, unproductive job at A&P. Although he feels "how hard the world was going to be to me," Updike's protagonist had unknowingly gained an important self-realization, wherein he became more mature and able to realize the future by living for the present.

A similar sentiment is expressed in Marvell's "To his coy mistress." Although his method of expressing the main theme differs in that he expressed his sentiments through a poem, the poet utilized the same theme of carpe diem apparent in "A&P." Only, Marvell talks about romantic love, wherein the Voice of the poem expresses urgency and faces an antagonist in Time as he contemplates whether or not to pursue his loved-one.