Question: Write a note on the significance of the title The Rape of the Lock.
Or, Comment on the title The Rape of the Lock.
Answer: The title of the poem “The Rape of the Lock” has its origin in a fierce feud between two well-to-do Roman Catholic London families the Fermors and the Peters. Pope knew the families well as they moved in same social and literary circles. The Farmers had a daughter named Arabella, and the Peters had a son, known as Lord Petre. This mischievous gallant Lord Petre cut off a lock of Arabella Fermor's hair as a joke. But the incident was not taken as a simple jest and a bitter quarrel ensued between the families, John Caryll, the son of another prominent Roman Catholic family in London and a friend and well-wisher to the two Catholic families, and Pope came forward to pacify or reconcile the quarreling families. Caryll requested Pope to write a poem to heal the breach between the two families. Pope attended to 'his friend's request and "The Rape of the Lock” was the result.
The title of “The Rape of the Lock” is significant and justified because the entire events of the story develop centering on the rape of Belinda's hair by Lord Petre, the Baron in the poem. In canto-I and Canto-II, Pope prepares that ground and towards the end of the third Canto the story reaches its culmination el climax with the shearing of Belinda's hair by the Baron with a 'two-edged weapon", a pair of scissors. The later course of the poem constitutes the fierce reaction of Belinda and her well-wishers and the battle of the two groups— the victor and the victim to take hold of or to get possession of the hair. To Baron, the lock of Belinda's hair is a life and death question. It is a trophy, an invaluable treasure to him. Separation from it would mean death to him. It is as significant as the life-giving air to the Baron. On the other hand, it is a question of honor and prestige for Belinda and her friend, Thalestris. The loss of her hair is tantamount to the loss of her- virginity or chastity, most of all a taint on her honor which they are ready to preserve at the cost of anything
Thus the whole poem centers around the theme of the rape of the lock. Pope resorted to the mock-heroic style because behind the cloak of his main theme, he has wrapped up other messages to deliver. The poet has mocked the idea of making a hue and crying over the pettifogging cause. The message Pope wants to air is that a lock of hair is a trivial thing, it can only enhance one's ephemeral physical beauty. The 'rape' or the loss of a bunch of hair is a minor loss. What is more important is the beauty and charm of the mind which make one alive even after death, So, Pope wants to suggest not to pine for the rape of the lock but to develop the inner faculty, good sense, and good humor to win a lasting impression in the minds of people.
Pope has parodied the well-known incident like the rape of Helen and the rape of Lucerne referring to Homer and Shakespeare The title of “The Rape of the Lock” is well-matched with the matter and manner, the content, and style of the poem. So it can be said that the title is justified.
Answer: The title of the poem “The Rape of the Lock” has its origin in a fierce feud between two well-to-do Roman Catholic London families the Fermors and the Peters. Pope knew the families well as they moved in same social and literary circles. The Farmers had a daughter named Arabella, and the Peters had a son, known as Lord Petre. This mischievous gallant Lord Petre cut off a lock of Arabella Fermor's hair as a joke. But the incident was not taken as a simple jest and a bitter quarrel ensued between the families, John Caryll, the son of another prominent Roman Catholic family in London and a friend and well-wisher to the two Catholic families, and Pope came forward to pacify or reconcile the quarreling families. Caryll requested Pope to write a poem to heal the breach between the two families. Pope attended to 'his friend's request and "The Rape of the Lock” was the result.
The title of “The Rape of the Lock” is significant and justified because the entire events of the story develop centering on the rape of Belinda's hair by Lord Petre, the Baron in the poem. In canto-I and Canto-II, Pope prepares that ground and towards the end of the third Canto the story reaches its culmination el climax with the shearing of Belinda's hair by the Baron with a 'two-edged weapon", a pair of scissors. The later course of the poem constitutes the fierce reaction of Belinda and her well-wishers and the battle of the two groups— the victor and the victim to take hold of or to get possession of the hair. To Baron, the lock of Belinda's hair is a life and death question. It is a trophy, an invaluable treasure to him. Separation from it would mean death to him. It is as significant as the life-giving air to the Baron. On the other hand, it is a question of honor and prestige for Belinda and her friend, Thalestris. The loss of her hair is tantamount to the loss of her- virginity or chastity, most of all a taint on her honor which they are ready to preserve at the cost of anything
“Honour for bid! at whose unrivaled shrine,The juxtaposition of the words 'Rape' and 'Lock' is important Pope has consciously used the words in a mock-epical vein. It gives a source of humor to the reader that how can a lock of hair be raped: Pope has used such a serious word to describe a trivial or paltry issue of snipping a lock of hair from a fashionable lady's head. The title foretells the mock-epical features of the poem and that is how the poem starts —
Ease, pleasure, virtue all our sex resign.”
“What dire offense from amorous causes springs,Like the title of the poem “The Rape of the Lock”, the very opening lines have reference to Lord Petre (The Baron) and ArabellaFermor (Belinda). Lord Pare is the 'rapist' or the victor who committed the "dire offence”, and Arabella or Belinda is the victim who raised a storm in a tea cup over a "trivial thing", loss of a lock of hair. The poem ends with a reference to the title and here Pope is exaggerating in praise of Belinda's lock of hair.
What mighty contests rise from trivial things.”
“This lock, the muse shall consecrate to fame,
And midst the stars inscribe Belinda's name.”
Thus the whole poem centers around the theme of the rape of the lock. Pope resorted to the mock-heroic style because behind the cloak of his main theme, he has wrapped up other messages to deliver. The poet has mocked the idea of making a hue and crying over the pettifogging cause. The message Pope wants to air is that a lock of hair is a trivial thing, it can only enhance one's ephemeral physical beauty. The 'rape' or the loss of a bunch of hair is a minor loss. What is more important is the beauty and charm of the mind which make one alive even after death, So, Pope wants to suggest not to pine for the rape of the lock but to develop the inner faculty, good sense, and good humor to win a lasting impression in the minds of people.
Pope has parodied the well-known incident like the rape of Helen and the rape of Lucerne referring to Homer and Shakespeare The title of “The Rape of the Lock” is well-matched with the matter and manner, the content, and style of the poem. So it can be said that the title is justified.
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