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The Characters Are:
- Belinda: She is Arabella Fermor, and she happens to be a beautiful young lady with two luscious curls that hang down her neck.
- The Baron: He is Lord Petre, and he is an admirer of Belinda who conspires to cut off one of her curls.
- Ariel: Think of her as Belinda's fairy god mother. She is Belinda's guardian sylph.
- Clarissa: The traitor who gives the scissors to Baron.
- Umbriel: The sprite seeks the Queen of Spleen in the cave, in order to help Belinda.
- Queen of Spleen: She is the goddess of the underworld and she gives Umbriel gifts for Belinda.
- Thalestris: She is Belinda's friend, who urges Sir Plume to defend Belinda's honor.
- Sir Plume: He is romantically attached to Thalestris, and he scolds the Baron.
- Sylphs, Genies, Demons, Phantoms, and Fairies all take part, as well as other supernatural creatures.
- The Baron: He is Lord Petre, and he is an admirer of Belinda who conspires to cut off one of her curls.
- Ariel: Think of her as Belinda's fairy god mother. She is Belinda's guardian sylph.
- Clarissa: The traitor who gives the scissors to Baron.
- Umbriel: The sprite seeks the Queen of Spleen in the cave, in order to help Belinda.
- Queen of Spleen: She is the goddess of the underworld and she gives Umbriel gifts for Belinda.
- Thalestris: She is Belinda's friend, who urges Sir Plume to defend Belinda's honor.
- Sir Plume: He is romantically attached to Thalestris, and he scolds the Baron.
- Sylphs, Genies, Demons, Phantoms, and Fairies all take part, as well as other supernatural creatures.
Mock Epic
Mock Epic: also called a mock-heroic is when an author
uses epic conventions to create a parody of classical epic poetry. Pope
identifies The Rape of the Lock
as a mock epic by claiming it is a "heroic comical poem." The
high-style and serious tone of classical epic poem are mimicked in order
to identify the comedic nature of human folly. It is also a satire as
it aims to correct the petty arguments and actions that are displayed as
grand and heroic in the poem, much like the heroes and events in epics
like The Iliad or The Odyssey, by Homer.
Epic Conventions: Cummingsstudyguide.net points out how Pope utilizes epic conventions
"Because a mock-epic parodies a classical epic, it uses the same conventions, or formulas, as the classical epic--but usually in a humorous way. For example, a convention of many classical epics is a sea voyage in which perils confront the hero at every turn. In The Rape of the Lock, the sea voyage is Belinda's boat trip up the Thames River. Her guardian sylph, Ariel, sees "black omens" that foretell disasters for Belinda even though the waves flow smoothly and the winds blow gently. Will she stain her dress? Lose her honor or her necklace? Miss a masquerade? Forget her prayers? So frightful are the omens that Ariel summons 50 of his companion spirits to guard Belinda's petticoat, as well as the ringlets of her hair. "
Canto I:
- Invocation of a Muse: The muses in Greek mythology are nine sisters, each specializing in an area. To invoke a muse meant to ask for help. The great classic poets all did this in the beginning of their tales, and so does Pope at the beginning of this mock epic.
- Dream Vision: Just like Athena uses a dream to warn her son, Aeneid, of the fall of Troy, Belinda is warned of the fall of her lock by her guardian sylph, Ariel. Ariel tells her "This to disclose is all thy guardian can: / Beware of all, but most beware of man!" (35-36, 378).
- Arming of a Hero: Belinda is being prepared to go to Hampton Court, yet the description of her toilet is elevated to the same style used to describe the arming of a hero before battle in classical epics. The scene is written as if Pope was describing a religious ritual where the dressing table is the altar and Belinda's maid is the priestess. Belinda is in essence going into battle; but she intends to slay hearts with her looks as Pope states "Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms" (61, 378).
Canto II:
- A Sea Voyage: In The Odyssey, Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) travels the seas between Troy and Greece, encountering many perils. In The Aeneid, Aeneas travels the seas between Troy and Rome, also encountering perils. Here the great, adventurous, and perilous sea voyage is Belinda traveling to Hampton Court on the Thames River.
- Petitioning the gods with a Sacrifice: The Baron desires Belinda's curl so much that he cries out to the gods for it. In classical epics the petition is joined with a sacrifice. The Baron's sacrifices his trophies from all of his previous loves so that he can have that lock of hair. For this sacrifice he asks that he will obtain the lock and have it long. Only one of those wishes are granted.
- Rising up to Protect the Hero: The sylphs are summoned in order to help to protect the honor of their heroic Belinda. The trivial is elevated as they describe how they must protect her from spilling her tea, forgetting her prayers, or missing a masquerade. Belinda's chastity and honor is their greatest concern.
Canto III:
- War and Battles: At Queen Anne's court they are playing a card game called "Ombre," which means man. This trivial card game is described like a heroic battle that reveals Belinda as the victor.
- Epic Feasting: Just like the King and country feast after the destruction of Grendel in Beowulf, Belinda and the other party goers feast on cakes and coffee. Tragically, the Baron feasts on a little too much coffee.
- Weaponry: "But when mischief mortals bend their will, / How soon find fit instruments of ill! / Just then, Clarissa drew with tempting grace / A two-edge weapon from her shining case" (151-4, 380). This two-edged weapon, is, simply put, a pair of scissors that Clarissa treacherously gives to the Baron.
- The Fall: The rape, or the cutting of Belinda's curl, is comparable to the Fall of Troy. Belinda, the mighty slayer of men, has fallen in battle to the Baron.
- Triumphant Speeches: Like any good hero after performing a heroic deed, the Baron gives a victory speech.
Canto IV:
- Visit to the Underworld: Just like Ulysses travels to the underworld and asks for a bag of wind to blow his ship back home, Umbriel journeys to the underworld and receives a bag of sighs from the Queen of Spleen. This bag he opens in court and all the women are affected.
Canto V:
- Epic Battle: The courtly battle of epic proportions as men are being slayed by looks and fans. The court has been divided into opposing sides based on whether they support Belinda or the Baron. The noise of the battle field is compare to the social warfare of the court: "'To arms, to arms!' the fierce virago cries, / And swift as lightning to the combat flies. / All side in parties, and begin the attack; / Fans clap, silks rustle, and tough whale bones crack; Heroes' and heroines' shout's confusedly rise, / And bass, and treble voices strike the skies" (271-6, 383).
- Deusx Machina: The conflict is resolved through the interference of the gods. The gods take the lock of hair into the sky before anyone is destroyed.
- Immortality: This is a common theme for the brave heroes, like Ulysses and Achilles. The fame of their heroic deeds will create a type of immortality as their fame preserves them throughout history. Belinda achieve the immortality of fame as her name is written in the skies.
Epic Conventions: Cummingsstudyguide.net points out how Pope utilizes epic conventions
"Because a mock-epic parodies a classical epic, it uses the same conventions, or formulas, as the classical epic--but usually in a humorous way. For example, a convention of many classical epics is a sea voyage in which perils confront the hero at every turn. In The Rape of the Lock, the sea voyage is Belinda's boat trip up the Thames River. Her guardian sylph, Ariel, sees "black omens" that foretell disasters for Belinda even though the waves flow smoothly and the winds blow gently. Will she stain her dress? Lose her honor or her necklace? Miss a masquerade? Forget her prayers? So frightful are the omens that Ariel summons 50 of his companion spirits to guard Belinda's petticoat, as well as the ringlets of her hair. "
Canto I:
- Invocation of a Muse: The muses in Greek mythology are nine sisters, each specializing in an area. To invoke a muse meant to ask for help. The great classic poets all did this in the beginning of their tales, and so does Pope at the beginning of this mock epic.
- Dream Vision: Just like Athena uses a dream to warn her son, Aeneid, of the fall of Troy, Belinda is warned of the fall of her lock by her guardian sylph, Ariel. Ariel tells her "This to disclose is all thy guardian can: / Beware of all, but most beware of man!" (35-36, 378).
- Arming of a Hero: Belinda is being prepared to go to Hampton Court, yet the description of her toilet is elevated to the same style used to describe the arming of a hero before battle in classical epics. The scene is written as if Pope was describing a religious ritual where the dressing table is the altar and Belinda's maid is the priestess. Belinda is in essence going into battle; but she intends to slay hearts with her looks as Pope states "Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms" (61, 378).
Canto II:
- A Sea Voyage: In The Odyssey, Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) travels the seas between Troy and Greece, encountering many perils. In The Aeneid, Aeneas travels the seas between Troy and Rome, also encountering perils. Here the great, adventurous, and perilous sea voyage is Belinda traveling to Hampton Court on the Thames River.
- Petitioning the gods with a Sacrifice: The Baron desires Belinda's curl so much that he cries out to the gods for it. In classical epics the petition is joined with a sacrifice. The Baron's sacrifices his trophies from all of his previous loves so that he can have that lock of hair. For this sacrifice he asks that he will obtain the lock and have it long. Only one of those wishes are granted.
- Rising up to Protect the Hero: The sylphs are summoned in order to help to protect the honor of their heroic Belinda. The trivial is elevated as they describe how they must protect her from spilling her tea, forgetting her prayers, or missing a masquerade. Belinda's chastity and honor is their greatest concern.
Canto III:
- War and Battles: At Queen Anne's court they are playing a card game called "Ombre," which means man. This trivial card game is described like a heroic battle that reveals Belinda as the victor.
- Epic Feasting: Just like the King and country feast after the destruction of Grendel in Beowulf, Belinda and the other party goers feast on cakes and coffee. Tragically, the Baron feasts on a little too much coffee.
- Weaponry: "But when mischief mortals bend their will, / How soon find fit instruments of ill! / Just then, Clarissa drew with tempting grace / A two-edge weapon from her shining case" (151-4, 380). This two-edged weapon, is, simply put, a pair of scissors that Clarissa treacherously gives to the Baron.
- The Fall: The rape, or the cutting of Belinda's curl, is comparable to the Fall of Troy. Belinda, the mighty slayer of men, has fallen in battle to the Baron.
- Triumphant Speeches: Like any good hero after performing a heroic deed, the Baron gives a victory speech.
Canto IV:
- Visit to the Underworld: Just like Ulysses travels to the underworld and asks for a bag of wind to blow his ship back home, Umbriel journeys to the underworld and receives a bag of sighs from the Queen of Spleen. This bag he opens in court and all the women are affected.
Canto V:
- Epic Battle: The courtly battle of epic proportions as men are being slayed by looks and fans. The court has been divided into opposing sides based on whether they support Belinda or the Baron. The noise of the battle field is compare to the social warfare of the court: "'To arms, to arms!' the fierce virago cries, / And swift as lightning to the combat flies. / All side in parties, and begin the attack; / Fans clap, silks rustle, and tough whale bones crack; Heroes' and heroines' shout's confusedly rise, / And bass, and treble voices strike the skies" (271-6, 383).
- Deusx Machina: The conflict is resolved through the interference of the gods. The gods take the lock of hair into the sky before anyone is destroyed.
- Immortality: This is a common theme for the brave heroes, like Ulysses and Achilles. The fame of their heroic deeds will create a type of immortality as their fame preserves them throughout history. Belinda achieve the immortality of fame as her name is written in the skies.
Juvenalian and Horatian Satire
Juvenalian Satire: To attack human vice.
- What made the Baron assault her? Pride Pride is the deadliest of all vices. Pride is motivated by the desire to conquer and poses, because success results in more pride. - What makes her reject him? Honor The sylphs guard her honor at all costs, and in order for Belinda to be successful, she must be completely honorable. Honor: made up of three things - Fame/Public Esteem: how others see you - Integrity: Moral - Chastity: (for a woman) The rape of the lock is a stain on her honor because Belinda believes this will cause her to popularity to be diminished. She is concerned with how the others at court will view her because of this. She then engages in a very public battle with the Baron so that she can gather as many supporters as she can. The Baron sees the rape as an advancement of his fame, hoping to increase the esteem others give him with this great conquest. Pope is satirizing Belinda and the Baron for being concerned with only the outward appearance of honor. Instead of being concerned with maintaining integrity, they fly at each other foolishly. They are hypocrites. As much as they are both attempting to defend their honor, they only care about what others think of their honor and so they are destroying their integrity in the pursuit of their hypocritical honor. Pope demonstrates that if these two young people would be more concerned with inner worth, and less concerned with outward appearances, the whole feud never would have begun. |
Horatian Satire: To jokingly point out the follies of man.
- The elevation of the trivial is comic. - The goal was to laugh the feuding families back together. - To have laughed at the poem, would have been to laugh at themselves. - To read the poem and to laugh is to laugh at our own nature to blow trivial things into events of epic proportions (i.e. to make a mountain out of a mole hill). |
Works Cited
Pope, Alexander. "The Rape of the Lock." Free Study Guides for Shakespeare and Other Authors. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides2/Pope.html.