Analysis of the Poem, The Rape of the Lock Essay - 1251 Words

In classic literature it is considered a sin to think too highly of yourself, having too much pride or vanity would lead to feelings of dislike by people of your class. The reason you would be disliked is because your peers will get annoyed with you. In â€Å"The Rape of the Lock,† by Alexander Pope, he takes that distaste and annoyance toward people to a whole new level. In this now classic new twist on epic poetry, it’s timeless characters can be anyone from any time period. Pope’s version of epic poem is a very welcome twist to an old classic. He took the original traits of the poem and revamped it to become his own. The Rape of the Lock is a poem in which things, not people, are the heroes. The diminution of the human, made ridiculous†¦show more content†¦However, there are some out there who believe that she needs to be taught a lesson, that looks are not everything. Fairest of mortals, thou distinguished care Of thousand bright inhabitants of air†¦ Some secret truths, from learned pride concealed†¦Think not, when woman’s transient breath is fled, That all her vanities at once are dead: Succeeding vanities she still regards, And though she plays no more, o’erlooks the cards. Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive, and love of ombre, after death survive (1138-39). Pope in the first canto uses excellent phrases and play on words to draw you into his poem of the abnormal. When reading any part of the poem it can associate with any time period. It is that style that continues to make the poem still popular today. Right from the beginning it has traits that get you hooked and puts the reader in shock for how selfish and naà ¯ve Belinda appears. She gets a warning from Sylphs at the beginning of the tale. It appears in a dream. Dreams are a common in many epic tales, epics haven’t always been in poetry form. For example, Shakespeare gave many of his characters warnings in his plays. In â€Å"Macbeth† one of the most famous, Macbeth is having dreams along with visions trying to warn him of dangers that are going to come. In Belinda’s dream Sylphs were trying to warn her that there was going to be man who was going to kill her vanity. Since she doesn’t believeShow MoreRelatedAnne Finchs Opposition to The Rape of the Lock Essay examples1412 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rape of the Lock The Restoration Period (1660-1700) was a period of social, political and philosophical turmoil, which laid the foundation for future centuries. This period was marked by an advance in colonization and trade and by the birth of the Whig and Tory parties. In poetry, works of Alexander Pope and Anne Finch and a number of other poets distinguishes the Restoration. But, there are several objections from these poets; one particular opposition occurs between Pope’s The Rape of theRead MoreGender and Power Dyanics in ; ‘Oroonoko’ by Aphra Behn and ‘the Rape of the Lock’ by Alexander Pope1610 Words   |  7 PagesPaper 1; ‘Oroonoko’ by Aphra Behn and ‘The Rape of the Lock’ by Alexander Pope The relationship between gender and power dynamics is relevant to the understanding of literature through the ages. However, the widespread problematic belief that women are simply the passive, powerless victims of male power is oversimplified and outdated. Power relations, as theorized by Foucault in ‘The History of Sexuality’ are far more complex; the dynamic is ever-changing, from moment to moment and therefore anyRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning And The Rape Of The Lock2224 Words   |  9 Pages â€Å"My Last Duchess† by Robert Browning and â€Å" The Rape of the lock† by Alexander Pope are two poems that convey a theme of love and objectification towards women.For instance, both poems are similar in their use imagery and metaphors to grasp their audience attention. For example, in â€Å"My last duchess† the author shows the wife in the poem as an item controlled by her husband and uses his love for her as an excuse to abuse his po wer. Her life is ruled by him and she would have to deal with his insaneRead MoreAlexander Pope Essay6204 Words   |  25 PagesThe Rape of the Lock Context Alexander Pope was born in London in 1688. 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