To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

The sun is used in literature to represent many different qualities, including “life, energy, positivity, clarity, and confidence” ("Sun Symbolism (7 Meanings in Culture & Spirituality)." Symbolism and Metaphor, 16 Jan. 2021). The sun is intimately woven with various systems of deities from cultures around the world; the Egyptians worshipped Ra and Horus, while the Greeks worshipped Apollo and the Romans worshipped Sol. In addition to deistic associations, the sun was also appropriated by human figures for rhetorical purposes as well: “For instance, Louis XIV, also known as Louis the Great or the Sun King, chose the sun as his symbol as he set out to restore peace and assume total control of his lands” ("Sun Symbolism (7 Meanings in Culture & Spirituality)." The sun referenced in Herrick’s poem initially seems to have some of these same symbolic meanings. Referred to as “the glorious lamp of heaven” (Line 5), the sun has divine, positive connotations. However, Herrick uses the sun imagery more to show the opposite, that is, what happens when the sun is “setting” (Line 8). The symbolism of the sun and its path towards day’s end highlights the waning, transient nature of life.