Husanova Farida The essence of the mock heroic in Alexander Pope's " The Rape of the Lock" Introduction

defend her honor carefully. Belinda wins a game of cards and brags a bit

too much, and the baron she has beaten decides to take revenge.

Another member of the party, Clarissa, “arms” him with a pair of scissors

as his “weapon,” and he engages in symbolic “rape” by snipping off

Belinda’s curl as she leans down to drink her coffee

Her lead sylph, Ariel,

Her lead sylph, Ariel,

deserts her in impotency, having discovered she may be falling in love. Belinda’s reaction is swift disgust and outrage, and she descends into a psychological Hades, mirroring the descent to gain wisdom prevalent in the classical heroic quest. She inhabits for a time the Cave of Spleen,

while other young people “fight” over the event. The lock of hair rises as a star visible only to “quick, poetic eyes.”

Characters

• Belinda: Beautiful young lady with wondrous hair, two locks of which hang gracefully in curls.
• The Baron: Young admirer of Belinda who plots to cut off one of her locks.
• Ariel: Belinda’s guardian sylph (supernatural creature).
• Clarissa: Young lady who gives the Baron scissors to cut off the lock
• Umbriel: Sprite who enters the cave of the Queen of Spleen to seek help for Belinda.
• Queen of Spleen: Underworld goddess who gives Umbriel gifts for Belinda.
• Thalestris: Friend of Belinda. Thalestris urges Sir Plume to defend Belinda’s honor.
• Sir Plume: Beau of Thalestris. He scolds the Baron.

Conclusion

• This Lock’ is of course the poem, The Rape of the Lock, which
• serves to replace the missing lock (with all that it signifies).
• The satirical style is tempered, however, by a genuine, almost
• voyeuristic interest in the "beau-monde" (fashionable world) of 18thcentury society.[17] The revised, extended version of the poem focuses
• more clearly on its true subject – the onset of acquisitive individualism
• and a society of conspicuous consumers. In the poem, purchased
• artefacts displace human agency and "trivial things" come to dominate.

Thank you for your attention!