Criticism In Alexander Pope's The Rape Of The Lock

Alexander Pope opens his humorous mock-epic The Rape of the Lock with the verse “What mighty contests rise from trivial things”—from the very beginning Pope offers his stance on the event that he is basing his poem on: that it is absolutely trivial. Throughout the poem, Pope is able to both satirize and humanize the flaws of the bourgeoisie society by cunningly observing and commenting on their rampant narcissism and obsession with public image. The religious imagery surrounding vain rituals, the symbolism of the nymphs and the hyperbolic treatment of hair are all devices that construct Pope’s derisive commentary that simultaneously pokes fun at the traditional epic poem structure and society’s trivial priorities. The religious imagery …show more content…
The Nymphs are Pope’s main symbolic resource to illustrate the core values of this deranged society. In the poem Ariel and the other nymphs that surround Belinda are a parable for the conventions a female should abide by in this said society. “Some nymphs there are too conscious of their face” (I, 79) here Pope alludes to the complete lack of self-awareness of the society, the seldom amount of self-criticism and overflow of narcissistic values. Even though there seems to be subtlety and dramatic comedy surrounding the characterization of some characters like Belinda— the nymphs’ priorities are laid out front and clear by Pope. He describes their life to be “predestined to the gnomes’ embracing” and their “vacant brains” crowded with “gay ideas” (I, 80). This characterization seems to mimic the broader criticism of the whole society itself where women live a life dedicated to male acceptance— “never once offends” (II, 12) and their minds are absent of any opinionated thought —“a sprightly Mind disclose” (II, 9). Moreover, another way Pope makes the sylphs an allegory of traditional social behavior is their serious determination to “protect the purity and virtue of young maidens” (Latimer) at all cost. In Canto II, Ariel commands all the other nymphs to guard her “important” possessions, Brillante guards her earrings, Crispiest her hair and Momentilla her Watch. The skewed priorities of the society are further reveled as “fifty chosen Sylphs” are trusted with “th’ important Charge, the Petticoat” (II, 22), this hyperbole mocks the importance of fashion for Belinda, the nymphs and the whole of society. The diction used in this passage also serve the mock-epic scheme as the language mimics the protecting the hero scenes of poems by Homero and Virgil. Language such as “fence”, “arm’d”, “Line”, “wide