The persona in "To His Coy Mistress" is basically a guy coaxing his lady love to "do it" with him using arguments of time and mortality. While this concept of convincing a woman to "give it up" is timeless, in this poem it is rather clear how the persona sees women as objects for pleasure. His persuasion, while flowing with cadence, reeks of machismo typical of predominantly patriarchal age.
Women were objectified, subservient to men, and were expected to serve either a husband or the Lord during this time period. Beauty and youth are always fleeting and women had but very little time to enjoy these pleasures, so the concept of carpe diem was especially important. The speaker wants the nymph to enjoy her beauty in the time of her life when it is prime instead of letting time pass her by.
A. Hurston points out the popular stereotypes of nonwhite Americans and elaborates on how white Americans underestimate the potential and capability of people of other races.
