Brief Summary
This video provides a detailed summary and analysis of Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock," Canto 2. It highlights the key episodes, including Belinda's River Cruise, the Baron's intentions, and Ariel's instructions to his troops. The analysis focuses on Pope's use of mock-heroic elements, irony, metaphors, and juxtapositions to satirize societal values and explore themes of beauty, vanity, and sexual conquest.
- Belinda's beauty is depicted as brighter than the sunshine, emphasizing her role as a parody of an epic hero.
- The Baron is introduced as an admirer of Belinda, determined to steal her locks as a trophy, using force or fraud if necessary.
- Ariel, Belinda's guardian spirit, summons an army of sylphs to protect her from impending danger, highlighting the poem's blend of the mundane and the supernatural.
Introduction
Canto 2 of "The Rape of the Lock" is a crucial part of the mock heroic epic. It introduces the locks of hair and their power, focusing on Belinda's River Cruise, the Baron's intentions, and Ariel's instructions to his troops. The 142-line canto is rich with ironies, metaphors, and juxtapositions, clarifying that the act of stealing a lock of hair represents a more explicit sexual conquest. Pope uses sexually metaphorical words like "force," "ravish," and "betray" to deepen the meaning of "rape" in the title.
Belinda's Beauty and River Cruise (Lines 1-18)
Pope begins by portraying Belinda's beauty as surpassing the sunshine. Continuing the metaphor from Canto 1, Belinda is described as a rival to the sun's beams as she travels on the River Thames to a party at Hampton Court. Despite the presence of other well-dressed individuals, Belinda outshines them all. She wears a jeweled cross on her necklace, which rests on her white breasts, sexualizing the religious symbol. Pope satirizes the societal trend of valuing carnal pleasure over moral lifestyle, portraying Belinda as socially charming but superficial, shining her smile for everyone without deep endearment.
Belinda as a Nymph (Lines 19-28)
Belinda is addressed as a nymph on a mission to destroy and enslave men. She has two curled locks of hair that hang at her back, hiding the ivory skin of her neck. The party at Hampton Court is depicted as a hunting trip for Belinda, with her curly locks serving as her hunting tools. These locks are strategically planned and nourished, acting as unsolvable labyrinths where her lovers find themselves imprisoned and enslaved. Pope uses metaphors to describe the locks as slender chains with the power to enslave, much like snares or fishing lines.
The Baron's Desire (Lines 29-46)
The Baron, an admirer of Belinda, is aware of the power of her locks and is determined to win them as a trophy. He plans to use force, ravish, or fraud to steal the locks, adding them to his collection of trophies from former loves. The Baron is portrayed as a nymph hunter rather than a lover, willing to use any means to achieve his desire. Pope compares the Baron to superstitious people imploring deities for success, creating an altar of love and praying for success. The Baron sacrifices billet-doux from his former loves, burning them to please love, sealing Belinda's doom.
Ariel's Protection (Lines 47-72)
Belinda's vessel glides on the River Thames, secured for the moment. Ariel, her guardian sylph, recalls warning her in a dream not to meet any man, which she ignored. She is en route to the party at Hampton Court, where many men, including the Baron, will be present. Ariel summons a huge army of sylphs and sylphids to safeguard Belinda, though only he can perceive them. When Ariel speaks to these sylphs, it appears as a light breeze. Pope metaphorically gives these sylphs the figures of butterflies and colorful insects surrounding Belinda's boat.
Ariel's Instructions to the Sylphs (Lines 73-100)
Ariel addresses his minions, informing them about the hierarchy of magical figures, including fairies, genies, elves, and demons. The purest spirits remain in the ether, while others regulate celestial bodies. Some spirits observe the human race and guide their actions, with the top spirits caring for Great Britain and guarding the British monarch. Ariel explains that he and his sylphs have the humble job of tending to the fair sex, helping with hairstyles, makeup, and fashion without the coquettes ever knowing it.
The Impending Threat (Lines 101-122)
Ariel informs the sylphs that they have gathered to guard Belinda against an impending threat. Pope introduces sexual innuendos, questioning whether Belinda will break Diana's law (lose her virginity) or if a frail China jar will receive a flaw. Breaking Diana's law and breaking pottery are allusions to loss of virginity. Ariel's anxiety extends to Belinda's lappet and her shock (dog), satirizing the priorities of society. He assigns tasks to his minions, such as guarding her fan, diamonds, watch, and favorite locks, while he himself protects Shock. Ariel assigns 50 special sylphs to protect Belinda's petticoat, suggesting a greater threat to her virtue than the theft of hair.
Consequences of Failure (Lines 123-142)
Ariel warns the sylphs of bitter consequences if they fail to protect Belinda. Careless spirits might find themselves stuck in glass jars, poked with pins, or dunked in cosmetic washes. They may be punished by being stuck in hair gel, lotion, or pomatums, or they will shrink into nothingness. Such a slacking sylph may also be drowned in hot chocolate or imprisoned in a coffee grinder. All the sylphs vow to be attentive to avoid such punishment and move towards their posts, guarding her petticoat, curls, and earrings, anxious and careful as they await the unknown danger.
Conclusion
Pope begins Canto 2 by describing Belinda's beauty and vanity, parodying it as frivolous. He draws a parallel between the Baron's frivolous spire and Belinda's dressing table altar, suggesting they are morally equivalent in their frivolity. Pope suggests that Belinda's beauty evens the playing field, and she cultivates her beauty to escape unfair moral scrutiny.
