Comment on the moral message of the poem “The Rape of the Lock.” 

Answer

Comment on the moral message of the poem “The Rape of the Lock.” 

A moral message is a lesson we learn from a story, poem, or play. Alexander Pope’s (1688-1744) “The Rape of the Lock” (1712) gives us a deep lesson. It shows how people care too much about beauty and fashion. It tells us that small things can cause big problems. The poet also shows that rich people forget real values. They live in pride and waste time. Through jokes and fun, Pope teaches an important message. He says beauty will not last. But good thoughts and art will stay forever. Below are its key moral messages.

Small Act, Big Trouble: The poem starts with a small joke. A boy cuts a girl’s hair. He thinks it is fun. But the girl cries. Her friends get angry. A small act turns into a big fight. It is evident in the following lines.

“What dire Offense from am’rous Causes springs, 

What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things.”

This shows how people take silly things too seriously. Pope says people should not get so upset. Hair will grow back. But honor comes from good work, not looks. The poet teaches us to stay calm. We must not let small things hurt us so much.

Pride in Looks: Belinda cares too much about beauty. She spends hours before the mirror. She uses powders, jewels, and perfumes. She treats her table like a temple. She puts more love in makeup than in prayer. The subsequent lines from the texts shows this clearly. Pope mocks this kind of pride. He says looks are not the best thing. The body grows old. Beauty fades with time. But people with pride do not see that. They worship their own face. Pope tells us not to live in such silly pride.

Fake Religion: Pope also talks about religion. Belinda keeps her Bible with her makeup. She treats both in the same way. She forgets real worship. This shows that she puts