Alexander Pope: As a Stirist

Q. NO 1

Discuss Pope as a satirist.

Or

Pope is a conscious artist of techniques of satire. Discuss.

Or

Examine Pope as a Moralist.

Or

Discuss Pope a social reformer.

Or

“Every satirist is an idealist at heart”. How far it is true about Pope?

 Answer:

In “The Rope of the Lock” Pope exposes the artificial and hollow life of 18^th century men and women. He paints it with humorous and delicate satire. Satire is the major stylistic device which Pope has used to create the desired impact. This satire is not directed against any

individual but against the follies and vanities in general of fashionable men and women of Pope’s age.

Pope started his poem with the object to reconcile two quarreling families but as the poem progressed; he forgot his original intentions and opened an attack on female follies and vanities. Belinda is not Arabella Fermore, she represents the fashionable ladies of the time and through her the follies and vanities of the whole sex are satirized. Similarly, Baron represents not Peter alone but is a representative of the whole aristocratic gentlemen of that age.

In “The Rape of the Lock” Pope satirizes at the vanities , follies, frivolities, shallowness , hypocrisy , self-embellishment , idleness

and false ideas of honour of eighteen century. He uses satire along with its several shades to achieve the desired aim. It is meant to amuse and instruct at the same time. In the result, Pope’s satire is least destructive. He is a satirist with a definite moral purpose.

The very opening lines,

“What dire offences from amorous causes springs?

What mighty contests rise from trivial things’?

Pope ironically shows the prevailing moral bankruptcy  and artificiality. Belinda’s long and laborious preparations in toilet show her pride and vanity. Pope brings out forcefully the obdurate female pride as well as vanity of his age through his portrait of Belinda and her conduct. The ceremony of her embellishment is described like a religious ritual. The details of the objects are given in a comic way. The comparison of Belinda with a goddess underlines the hollowness of the age. Puffs, powders and love letters all these weapons are placed side by side with Bible to produce anticlimax effect. The intention there is to satire on the vanities and false moral standards of eighteen century women. Pope is both a satirist and a moralist.

Petty affairs were given greater importance than the solemn and moral ones. This shows the reversal of values and standards. The death of lap dog or breaking of a fragile  china jar is as serious a matter as the death of a husband. The ethics of eighteen century English were obviously in a sad and rotten state, which was severely satirized by Pope in “The Rape of the Lock”.

The leading negative trends and attitudes of 18^th century men and women are the subject matter of Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock”. These trends are exposed in a satirical way. It is commonly known that real purpose of satire is the amendment of vices by correction. Accordingly, Pope’s satire is a nice criticism of life and exposure of human weakness, follies, absurdities and shortcomings. He uses humour, wit, anticlimax, anti-thesis , metamorphosis , hyperbole ,sarcasm , lampoon ,mockery , ridicule, innuendo and irony with great skill to achieve his goal,

i.e. his moral end. The distinguishing aspect of Pope's satire is that it operates at three levels, exposure, laughter and instruction.

By the use of different other expressions Pope has achieved his moral purpose. His mock epic is a nice piece of social criticism. His satire is evident in the portrait of Belinda's character. She is called as the “fairest of mortals" “goddess” and “the rival of beam of the sun”. The only intention is to mock at the lady. Another example of Pope's satire can be seen in the description of the “cave of spleen”. The goddess of spleen is a representative figure of 18^th century women.

In short, it becomes clear without any doubt that “The Rape of the Lock” is a bitter and realistic satire on 18^th century aristocratic circle. Pope's purpose was not confined to mere condemnation and entertainment. He was a true humanist who always aimed at moral reformation. His noble cause is to establish the superiority of sane values. It is true that he has exposed the moral degeneration in a bitter manner but his satire is least destructive. He is a great artist and moralist who have wanted to reform the society for better.