The Rape of the Lock: Pope

The Rape of the Lock is the masterpiece of Alexander Pope. It is not merely a classic among the mock epics. It is a great satire too. The Rape of the Lock is a triumph of Pope’s poetic genius. Pope was a neo-classicist and wrote the unique mock-heroic poem the “The Rape of the Lock” when he was twenty-three. The poem was first published in 1712. In 1714 Pope elaborated it to five Cantos by introducing the machinery and mock-heroic incidents. He added Clarissa’s speech in the final version for publication in 1717.
Dr. Johnson has characterized it as “the most attractive of all ludicrous compositions”.

Hazlitt said about it: The little is made great, and the great little. It is the triumph of insignificance. It is perfection of the mock-heroic.

The story of the poem “The Rape of the Lock” belongs to the aristocratic, fashionable society of 18th Century London. In the title the trivial incident of the cutting off a lock of a woman’s hair is decribed by the very strong term ‘rape’ for forcefully defiling the chastity of a woman.

The poem begins with Belinda having a dream, sent by Ariel, her guardian spirit, of some imminent disaster. Belinda was a pretty, refined young lady of such a society. She lived amid affluence, comfort and luxury. She moved in high and fashionable circle. Her ideal days were kept busy in dreams and fancies, toilet and love letters, pleasure trips and the game of ombre.

Belinda had a guardian spirit, Ariel. Ariel was a sylph, a particular kind of spirit. He took upon himself the charge of according protection to Belinda from every sort of earthly danger.

The guardian spirit, Ariel once foresaw some impending disaster to Belinda. He was, of course, not certain of the nature of that disaster. He could not also guess how it would come. But he was sure that a mishap would take place to Belinda that very day. He warned her in a dream against that possible danger. He particularly cautioned her against men.

In the day Belinda got up from her bed at twelve o’ clock. She forgot in no time her dream and the stern warning of Ariel. She was engaged forthwith in her toilet. By means of various cosmetics and fanciful articles, she made herself exceedingly charming and captivating.

After her toilet, she set out for a trip on the river Thames. She was surrounded by a band of young lovers, who were kept spellbound by her attractive beauty. She received their compliments with perfect punctiliousness. She showed favor to some and was cold to the others, but she was never impolite and offended none.

Belinda reached Hampton Court, the palace of Queen Anne. It was a center of fashions and refined gossip, where the people of high ranks and riches assembled to parade their culture and while away their time in gossips.

Belinda’s guardian spirit was anxious about her safety. He instructed his followers to spare no pains for the sake of her security. He entrusted each of them with a definite task to secure Belinda’s protection. The airy denizens became immediately active and vigilant to perform their sacred duty.

Lord Petre, a young baron, was also present at Hampton Court on that day. He was extremely desirous of the possession of the fair locks to Belinda. He was determined to obtain the same by any means, fair or foul.

As afternoon drew on, Belinda sat to play the game of ombre. She opposed two young gentlemen. One of those gentlemen was the Baron. The game was played with keen interest and excitement. Belinda, however, won ultimately and felt much elated.

But Belinda’s joy was transitory. It simply led to a deep sorrow of her life. After the game of ombre, the party began to take coffee. Coffee stimulated the young Baron and supplied him with the suggestion for the accomplishment his hazardous act.

Clarissa, a participant in the coffee party, presented, at that very time, a pair of scissors to the Baron. The resourceful Baron hit upon a plan forthwith. He got behind Belinda cleverly to cut her hair lock. The sylphs were all alert. But the Baron finished his job with an admirable adroitness and cut of the precious lock from Belinda’s head by Means of his scissors.

The Baron was highly pleased with his success. He felt jubilant over his performance. Belinda’s lovely lock now belonged to him absolutely.

But Belinda was deeply distressed. A pitiful cry came out of her . Her mind was filled with wrath and passion. She was instigated by her companion Thalestris. Her loss was great, and caused a slur on her beauty and reputation.

Thalestris asked her admirer Sir plume to persuade the Baron to return the lock. But the Baron refused politely and displayed his prize rather haughtily.

Belinda accused the Baron of committing sacrilege by cutting off her hair. She bitterly repined at her unfortunate lot. Clarissa tried in vain to pacify her and appealed for good humor. But the angry mind paid no heed to her wise counsel. She challenged the proud Baron and gave all for war.

All those who were present there soon took sides and began to fight. It was a strange battle, fought with no common weapons. Fans and frowns, silk and shouting, bodkins and booing, were freely used in the combat.

A good many casualties were sustained by either party, but none of them was really serious. There took place several personal encounters, too. Of those encounters, the most attractive was the combat between Belinda and the Baron.

Belinda faced the Baron. She threw some snuff into his nostrils, and the laid the Baron prostrate. She threatened to strike him with her heavy bodkin. The Baron admitted defeat and apologized. The vengeful lady demanded from him the immediate restoration of the varnished lock.

But the lock could no more be found. In vain they all searched for it, for it was nowhere. Perhaps, it was too precious a prize for mortal possession, and had vanished into the ethereal realm.