Introduction to the Poem

Origin of the Poem The Rape of the Lock is based on a trifling incident, picked up from real life. Lord Petre was well-known for his amorous and frivolous nature. He loved Arabella Fermor. He offended her by cutting off a lock of her hair. This trifling incident gave rise to a serious quarrel between the two families – The Petre’s and the Fermor’s, John Caryll, a common friend of the two families gave a suggestion to Pope, with whom he was equally friendly, to write a mock heroic poem based on the rape of Belinda’s lock by the baron. Pope at once picked up the hint and composed the poem The Rape of the Lock.

First Edition

The first edition of the poem contained only two cantos which were published in a volume of miscellaneous, poems brought out by Bernard Linton in 1712. The name of the poet was not given.

Second Edition

Soon after the publication of the poem in two cantos, Pope came across a French book called, Le Comte de Gabalis by Ade de Montfaucon de Villars. This French work was based upon the Rosicrucian doctrine of spirits. Pope was greatly impressed by the treatment of spirits in the French book and in the next edition he introduced the sylphs, gnomes and the fain mythology. The poem was enlarged to five cantos and was published in March 1714 with the author’s name.

Third Edition

The third edition of the poem was published in 1717 and found a suitable place among the poet’s work. Some minor changes were introduced, particularly in lines 651-680.

Mock Heroic Poem

The Rape of the Lock is a mock heroic poem. It seeks to present a trifling subject in the style and manner of an epic poet. It is burlesque of the epic and the interest of the poem lies in the manner in which Pope has used the mock heroic machinery in a very deft and clever manner. Very insignificant and light matters are presented here in a grave and serious way. The use of irony and epigram adds further to the interest of the poem. The whole poem stands as a little delirious thing and is recognised as “the most attractive of all ludicrous compositions.”

The title of the poem

The poem is given a very suitable title. The word ‘rape’ means carrying off by force. The lock of Belinda’s hair was forcefully cut off and taken away by the Baron. That was the Rape of the Lock and the title, thereof, is very suitable.

Its characters

The main characters in the poem are Belinda and Peter. Belinda is represented as a lady of fashion, devoted to all the gay frivolities and gaieties of society. It is the business of her life to be gaily attired and shine out in the company of young lords and ladies. She attracts young lovers by her beauty. She was to suffer for her extra leaning towards convival parties.

The Baron, Lord Petre is a young gallant in love with Belinda. He is subject to all the frivolities to which lords and ladies were prone in those days. He cuts of the lock bf Belinda’s hair and creates ill feeling in her heart. A rupture is caused between Belinda and the Baron and the two families get estranged as the result of this incident. Lord Peter appears as a very irresponsible, showy, frivolous young lord in the poem and fails to win our admiration. The other characters of the poem are more or less shadowy. Thalestris, Clarissa, Sir Plume are other minor characters in The Rape of the Lock.

Satire and moral in the poem

The Rape of the Lock is a satire against feminine frivolity and the zest of ladies for convivial parties. The moral of the poem is presented in the speech by Clarissa in the fifth Canto. The moral is that young ladies should not so much care for attractiveness and beauty as for virtue. Beauty without virtue is useless. Beauty cannot outlive the ravages of time. Disease and old age are bound to bring disaster in the life of the most beautiful women. The wise course for beautiful ladies, therefore, is not to spend their time in frivolities and flirting but in leading a ‘sinuous life. Virtue alone would give happiness. That is the moral of the poem.

Dedication

The poem was dedicated to one Mrs. Arabella Fermore.

Analysis of the Poem

Canto I

Lines 1 to 6 Love affairs and trifling sometimes give rise to serious quarrels. The poem, The Rape of the Lock is penned at the suggestion of Pope’s friend, John Carlyl. The poet hopes that even Belinda, heroine of the poem, would take pleasure in reading it.

Lines 7 to 12 It is really very strange that Lord Peter should take liberty with a lady like Belinda and cut off the lock of her beautiful hair. It is surprising what strange motive led Belinda to reject a gentle lord like Lord Peter.

Lines 13 to 26 The sun rose and its rays entered Belinda’s room through the white curtains. The lap-dogs woke up and moved their limbs in order to throw off their lethargy. Belinda also woke up, rang the bell three times and finding no response from her maid servant, again went to sleep. In her dream she saw a young gallant, addressing her in*the following manner.

Lines 27 to 40 The young man speaking to Belinda was Ariel, her guardian sylph. The spirit asked Belinda whether she had ever been impressed by tales of fairies narrated to her by her nurse. He then asked her to realise her own importance and have faith in a few secrets that might be imported to her. Learned people do not believe in such truths, but maidens and children usually have faith in them.

Lines 41 to 50 Belinda should know that a large number of spirits were always attending her. These spirits were unseen but they were her protector at all places. They always attended her whether she was in the box. at theatre or drove in the Hyde-Park.

Lines 51 to 66 The spirits were in their former lives, women. After death a woman was transformed into a gnome, a sylph or a salamander, according to the qualities possessed by them in their earthly existence.

Lines 67 to 70 Young and beautiful ladies who reject lovers are protected by sylphs.

Lines 71 to 78 It is generally believed that sense of honour prevents ladies from yielding to the advance of lovers. Sometimes it becomes difficult for them to keep away from the amorous advances of young men in lovely convivial meetings. They are, however, protected by their guardian angels though it is generally supposed that it is their sense of honour that prevents them from going astray.

Lines 79 to 90 Gnomes, nymphs and sylphs look after those ladies who are guided by high thoughts of love and think of marrying lords and ducks. Such vain and affected ladies do not enjoy wise protection of sylphs but are under the evil influence of mischievous gnomes.

Lines 91 to 104 Often when women deviate from the path of chastity, it is the syIphs that come to their rescue and lead them safely through the entanglements of love. The sylphs always stand by the ladies in their approaches by their lovers.

Lines 105 to 114 The speaker then reveals himself to Belinda in a dream and designates himself as Ariel. He points out to Belinda that a danger was likely to befall her before sunset that day. From the study of the star which governed her destiny it was palpably clear that some mishap was sure to overtake her before sunset. She should be on her guard against the danger and keep herself away from the society of men, particularly the advances of a lover.

Lines 115 to 120 Belinda’s pet dog, Shock by name, thought that his mistress had slept too long. He awoke her by licking her body with his tongue. The first thing, that Belinda saw was a love letter. On reading the love letter, replete with phraseology of love sick afflicted lover, Belinda forgot all about the dream and the warning held out by Ariel in her dream.

Lines 121 to 148 Soon after getting from her bed, Belinda busied herself in decorating her figure. The work of toilet began in right earnest. The dressing table was uncovered and exhibited all the accessories of the toilet. There beautiful paints, powder and jewellery were scattered over the dressing table. Belinda dressed herself in a white garment and as she saw her figure in the mirror, she looked like a goddess. The sylphs helped her in her make-up, though Betty, the maid-servant w as praised for completing her lady’s toilet.           ‘

Canto II

Lines 1 to 18 After completing her toilet, Belinda set out for a boat-trip in the Thames. She looked extremely beautiful and even’ eye was fixed on her alone. Her eyes sparkled with brightness. She wore a bewitching smile on her lips and was the object of delight to all those who had assembled on the boat. Even if Belinda had any faults, her beauty was sufficient to make her admirers feel that she was faultness. A mere glance at her beauty would make anyone forget her weakness.

Lines 19 to 28 Belinda, the nymph of the gathering, had nourished the two locks of hair which fell on her smooth ivory neck and captivated the hearts of youngmen. Her locks were the snares in which the hearts of lovers were enmeshed.

Lines 29 to 34 The adventurous Baron Lord Peter admired Belinda’s locks of hair and harboured in his heart a strong desire to own them by fair or foul means.

Lines 35 to 46 To fulfil this desire of possessing Belinda’s lock of hair, the Baron had offered prayer to the god of Love before day-dawn. He worshipped the god of Love in the old Pagan way. He performed all the rituals by which gods of love are placated. The gods listened to his prayer. Only one part of the prayer was granted. He could have the locks of Belinda’s hair but he would not be able to keep them for long.

Lines 47 to 72 The beautifully painted boat in which Belinda was moving on the waters of Thames, was the object of great delight to all the merry-makers. The rays of the sun trembled as they fell upon the water. Music was played on the board A gay atmosphere prevailed and everyone seemed to be very happy. Belinda smiled and all the world was gay. The spirits, however, were not very happy, Ariel w as particularly very anxious. He called his fellow spirits and addressed them in the following manner

Lines 73 to 90 Ariel, the chief spirit of the air, called upon the sylphs, sylphids, fairies, genii, elves, to take good care of Belinda and assigned to them different duties.

Lines 91 to 100 Ariel reminded his fellow spirits to look after the powder and paints of young ladies. He asked them to save the powder from the rude blowing of the wind. They were also required to draw fresh colours from the spring flowers and help the ladies in every possible way.

Lines 101 to 110 Ariel then warned the spirits to be on their guards because some danger was likely to befall Belinda that day. The danger likely to overtake Belinda would be brought about in different ways.

Lines 111 to 122 Ariel then assigned different duties to the spirits. Some were asked to look after Belinda’s fluttering hair, some were asked to take charge of the ear-rings, while Ariel himself took the responsibility’ of looking after the lap-dog, Shock Fifty chosen spirits were given the charge of looking after her petticoat.

Lines 123 to 136 Ariel warned the spirits that if they were found negligent in the performance of their duties, punishment would be meted out to them. The spirits would be either shut up in small bottles or pierced through with pins or stuck up with guns etc.

Lines 137 to 142 After Ariel’s address to the spirits was over they came down from the sails and took up their respective positions. Some took charge of Belinda’s hair while others upon her earrings. All the spirits waited for the dreadful event and were prepared to protect Belinda from any likely mishap that day.