Islamic Articulation of the Carpe Diem Motif in Herrick's "To Daffodils": A Post-Structuralist and Intertextual Inquiry

Abstract

While Herrick is known for his religious poetry, the intersection of Islam and his work has not been explored in existing literature. The article examines the potential for Islamic meanings within Robert Herrick's poem "To Daffodils" through post-structuralist and intertextual lenses of literary analysis. The study employs the tenets of post-structuralism to explore the poem's thematic significance in relation to Islam. The analysis takes into account the temporal context of Herrick's 17th century era and the emergence of secularism, as well as the notion of the universality of Islam. The study concludes that the poem serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of human life, which is also a central theme in Islamic ethos. Herrick's work can be seen as an exemplar of Islamic knowledge, which imparts messages to humans about the temporality of life and its purposes and its eventual end. This article highlights the importance of Islamic reading of Herrick’s literature conveying important messages about the human condition and the significance of contemplating the ephemeral nature of life.