Satire on Fashionable Society in The Rape of the Lock | Alexander Pope | University Notes
“The Rape of the Lock” is a famous mock-heroic poem by Alexander Pope, which effectively satires English literature, 18th century society, and fashionable society.
In this epic poem, the poet has made a sharp satire on upper class society, fashion, beauty, pride, and social manners. The poem focuses on a small social controversy and exposes the mock epic style, social satire, and artificial values of society.
Satire on Fashionable Society in “The Rape of the Lock”
However, Alexander Pope's poem “The Rape of the Lock” is a sharp satire of upper-class society in eighteenth-century England. This poem exposes the superficial thinking of the society by giving a big picture to a small social incident. Pope shows in this poem that the fashionable society of that time gave excessive importance to external glitter, fashion and small things. The poet makes fun of the hollow mentality of the society by focusing on trivial matters instead of serious issues.
Belinda, the heroine of this poem, is a representative of the fashionable society. She is beautiful and is very conscious about her beauty. There is a detailed description of Belinda's makeup at the beginning of the poem. The scene of her dressing up has been shown like a religious worship. Alexander Pope wants to point out here that in fashionable society, beauty and fashion are given more importance than God. This description satirizes the priorities of society.
Belinda pays full attention to her looks, hair and clothes. Her life revolves around fashion, parties and accolades. When one of her hair is stolen, she considers it a great insult. Such a big controversy arises over a small matter. Through this the poet shows that in the fashionable society even small matters are made a matter of life and death.
The male characters in the poem are also victims of satire. A young man named Baron schemes to get one of Belinda's hair. He considers it an act of bravery. Pope here shows that even men of fashionable society take pride in vain achievements rather than in true courage or great deeds. Winning one hair becomes like winning a war for them. This thinking is ridiculous and exposes the superficial mentality of the society.
Alexander Pope has described the entire society as a victim of pretence. Drinking coffee, playing cards and going to parties are considered the greatest things in life. People do not use their time in any good or useful work. All this has been said in the poem in such a serious language that it makes the reader laugh. This is the satire of the Pope. He presents trivial topics using a serious style.
The use of supernatural creatures such as sylphs also deepens the satire. These creatures protect Belinda's beauty and reputation. This indicates that in the fashionable society, respect also depends only on external appearance. Spiritual qualities have no importance. This is a harsh satire on the moral weakness of the society.
The end of the poem is also satirical. The incident of losing a hair is immortalized. With this Alexander Pope gives the message that fashionable society makes small things history, while ignoring big and serious issues. This society has moved away from real values.
Thus, “The Rape of the Lock” is a powerful satire on fashionable society's hollow thinking, ostentatious living and its attraction towards trivial matters. Pope exposes society's serious shortcomings in a humorous and light-hearted manner. That is why this poem is not only entertainment but also a deep commentary on society.
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