The part Belinda plays in the social drama of The Rape of the Lock is at once despicable and endearing. Discuss
The chief character of the poem The Rape of the Lock is Belinda, a
typical belle of the 18th century London. The life and character of
contemporary ladies are well represented by her, pleasure and fashion are the
great ends of her life. She cares more for dresses for dances and gaieties of
life than for her honour or her religion. Outwardly she appears to be
attractive and beautiful, but inwardly, she is vain, frivolous and empty devoid
of all sense and wisdom.
The faults of Belinda are many as
portrayed by Pope in his mock-heroic epic. She is a flirt, a goddess as well as
a pretty spoiled child.
Her religious ceremony:
At the outset we learn that she
is a lazy woman who continues to sleep till the hour of twelve in the day and
who, on working up; at that hour, falls asleep again, to be awakened ultimately
by the licking tongue of her pet dog. When she does finally rise from bed, she
goes through a love letter which is waiting for her and which makes her forget
the vision that she has seen. Soon she gets busy with her toilet. Pope
represents the operation of Belinda as a sacret religious rite performed by
her. She is the priestess of fashion. Assisted by her maid Betty, she opens one
after another various boxes and caskets, containing perfumery, gems, and
articles of luxurious adornments. The powers she worships are “cosmetic power” and the objects that
load the toilet- table have been brought from all over the world:-
“This Casket India’s glowing gems unlocks
And all Arabia breathe from yonder box”
She is dressed in a white dressing
gown. She has not yet put on her head dress. She is compared to a priestess who
worships her goddess with a bare head. Powder, puffs, patches, combs are
handled in due order till her beauty puts on all its charms;
“Here files of Pins extend their shining Rows,
Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet- doux
She turns her attention to all
these. Pope conceives her as paying adoration to them as the priestess does to
her idols. Later she seems to worship herself when she bends herself before a
mirror and adores her beautiful image. Thus pope here describes the minute
details of the toilet with delicate humour and gentle irony..........................................................................................................................
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