The Rape of the Lock as a Social Satire. 

Answer

Consider “The Rape of the Lock” as a social satire. 

Social satire predominates in the work of Alexander Pope (1688-1744). It is a way to criticize and condemn society for its evils. “The Rape of the Lock” (1712) is a masterpiece of satire on the aristocracy of that age. The poet has a keen observation of the moral corruption prevailing in society. In the poem, Pope satirizes young girls and boys. He mocks aristocratic women and men and their activities. He also criticizes husbands, wives, judges, and politicians.

Trivial Concerns of the Upper Class: Pope satirizes the trivial concerns of the aristocracy. He turns a small haircutting event into a big, epic drama. From the start, he sets a tone for satire. He says, 

What mighty contests rise from trivial things.

Pope shows that the upper class is concerned with petty and insignificant matters. They blow these matters out of proportion. They act as if they are serious life-and-death situations. This focus on trivial things reflects the shallowness of their lives and priorities.

Mocking Vanity and Beauty: The poem pokes fun at the excessive concern with beauty and appearance. Belinda is obsessed with her looks. Her preparation for the day is described as a sacred ritual.

…First, rob’d in White, the Nymph intent adores 

With Head uncover’d, the cosmetic Pow’rs.

Pope compares Belinda’s dressing routine to a religious ceremony. It highlights the ridiculousness of her vanity and the importance society places on physical beauty.

The Role of Women in Society: Pope’s poem critiques the limited roles available to women in the aristocracy. He focuses on their beauty and reputation. Women like Belinda are judged by their appearance. Any loss of beauty, like the cutting of her lock, is seen as a major blow to their social standing. Thalestris, another character, worries that Belinda’s reputation will be damaged: 

Already hear the horrid things they say.

This shows the pressure on women always to maintain a perfect image. Meanwhile, men can pursue romantic adventures without facing any consequences.

Gender Relations and Power: The Rape of the Lock also satirizes gender relations. Here, the author portrays men and women in a superficial struggle for power. The Baron’s desire to possess Belinda’s lock reflects male dominance and objectification of women. But it is portrayed exaggeratedly and humorously. Belinda’s lock is treated as a prize, and the whole event is ridiculous: 

The meeting Points the sacred Hair dissever 

From the fair Head, for ever and for ever!

This mocks both men’s pursuit of women and the importance placed on trivial acts of courtship.

Satirising the Legal System: Pope also portrays the picture of the judges and jury-men in the poem. The judges and jury feel hungry in the afternoon. The judges pass death sentences hastily without studying the case properly. The jury members are hurrying to leave the court to eat dinner. They deliver a verdict of guilty (death) against the accused without discussing the evidence given by witnesses. Here is a quotation to support the point.

The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, 

And wretches hang that jurymen may dine.

In termination, the poem effectively satirizes the absurdity and triviality of upper-class life in 18th-century Britain. Pope uses humor to criticize the obsession with appearance. He also points out the shallow relationships between men and women. The mock-heroic style and exaggerated epic language add to the satire. This makes the poem a clever and sharp commentary on the society of his time.