Consider The Rape of the Lock as a social satire

Or, Critically assess whether The Rape of the Lock succeeds or fails as a satire on contemporary society

Or, Write a note on The Rape of the Lock as satire on the fashionable society of Pope’s time.

Or, Comment on Pope’s treatment of the aristocratic way of life in 18th century London in The Rape of the Lock.

Or, Show how The Rape of the Lock is a satire on contemporary society.

Or, What idea of Pope as a satirist do you gather from your reading of The Rape of the Lock? Refer freely to the text in your answer.

Or, What picture of the 18th century English Society do you get from your study of The Rape of the Lock?

Or, Discuss Pope’s realism with reference to the poem The Rape of the Lock.

Or, What light does throw on the contemporary fashionable society?

Or Discuss The Rape of the Lock as social criticism.

Answer: “My purpose is to laugh at the little us guarded follies of the female sex.”, says Alexander Pope. Being the eighteenth-century poet, Pope was very sensitive. As a subtle observer of the social life, Pope has given an apparent account or picture of eighteenth-century London life. In this connection, an eminent critic says about this poem, “It is a page torn from the pretty and pleasure-seeking life of the eighteenth century London”. In this poem, Pope has depicted the frivolous activities of the society and belles of the eighteenth century. London. In respect Leslie Stephen says, “This poem is a satire on the frivolity of the feminize sex.” In fact, this poem is a social document in which Pope satirizes the follies and weakness of the society especially of the fashionable ladies and he wants to have a reformation. In this sense, it is a satire to a great extent. Now we are going to elaborate on our topic.

At the very outset of the play, we are acquainted with two quotable lines which highlight the then social picture. In eighteenth-century London, the aristocratic people were quarrelsome. Sometimes for the trivial matter, they started to clash and felt no hesitation in shedding blood. So Pope has depicted this vile picture only through two lines

“What dire offence from amorous cause spring,

What mighty contest rises from trivial things.”

If we explore the poem we will find that Belinda is a fashionable woman. The two locks of hair have increased her beauty. But a frivolous youth, Baron, has cut off one of them. As a result, a tumultuous quarrel starts between the two families. In fact, in writing this poem Pope was motivated by one of his friends Mr Caril. For; the rape of the Lock of Mrs Arabella Fermor a dangerous quarrel aroused between two Roman Catholic families Caril requested Pope to write or compose a poem on that very subject. In writing this poem, Pope’s purpose was to bring about reconciliation between those two families. But he was much condemned afterwards.

However, in the description of this incident, Pope has depicted one of the aspects or side of the aristocratic family.

This poem is a satire on the female sex. Pope has severely criticized the frivolous women the eighteenth-century London. Belinda is a typical character through the activities of her character Pope has shown the real character of the women of the then age. Belinda is a fashionable lady who goes to bed after midnight and wakes up after midday. After waking up she rings the bell three times. Then Betty the maidservant who is like a false priestess comes to help her. She spends two or three hours in her toilet (dressing room). Pope has satirized the women of the then age while describing the toilet of Belinda. Here I venture to quote a few lines in this connection-

“The tortoise here and the elephant unite,

Trans formed to combs, the speckled and the white;”

In the description of Belinda’s journey to Hampton court Pope also again satirized the women. Belinda after mending her face with cosmetics set an expedition to the Hampton court. There are a lot of friends with her. She is making a journey by boat in the Thames; the boat is also well decorated and gorgeous and Belinda is very much joyous. Her comrades are also in the joyous mode. It scenes where nature is all around her are also joyous for her. Pope writes-

“Belinda smiled and all the world we gay.”

Actually, through this description, Pope satirizes the social degradation of the eighteenth century. In the earlier part of the eighteenth century, the social condition was so much precarious that it was almost impossible, especially for the ladies to walk along the streets alone. They Had to be the victim of the terrorist rapists, masters and others. This incident proves that during the eighteenth century the administration of English degraded. So, Pope satirizes this aspect of eighteenth-century London life.

Pope satirizes the women who love the lapdogs more than their husbands. At that age, women felt proud of remaining maids. They mixed with boyfriends; passed their time gossiping, playing ombre etc. But they did not marry. Clarissa criticizes this very tendency of the woman. Through her mouth, Pope advocates that if’ any lady wants to be happy, she must marry. So, Clarissa comments—

“Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade

And she who scorns a man must die a maid.”

Pope has also satirized the way of life of eighteenth-century women. The women especially those who were fashionable sometimes used to pretend that they were so much sick than expected that their boyfriends would visit them in the bedroom. Just to expose themselves, they used to wear a gorgeous dress and made a show of their colourful dress. They expected love letters in their bedroom. So, Pope goes on-

“There Affection, with the sickly mien

Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen.

Practised to lisp, and the head aside

Faints into airs, and languishes with pride.”

They were always submerged in the thought of their lovers. So, Aerie one of the spirits viewed an earthly lover lurking in Belinda’s heart—

“Sudden he viewed in spite of all her art

An earthly lover lurking at her heart.”

The ladies of the eighteenth Century London listen to go to bed with the lapdogs. If the lapdogs died they would give such a scream as if their husband had died-

“Not louder shricks to pitying heavens are cast

When husbands of when lap dogs breathe their last.”

This Pope has attacked the follies of eighteenth-century women.

However, in the context of the delineation stated alcove, we come across that this poem is a potent satire on the eighteenth-century way of London life. But the limit of this poem is that Pope only deals with the aristocratic way of life in the poem. He does not talk about the other classes’ people. So, having a bird’s eye view of the above delineation we may infer with the saying of Hugh walker “The raillery of fashion and the vanity of beaux and belles of is the staple of ‘The Rape of the Lock.”