Alexander Pope is known for his scathing but intelligent critiques of English high society. Her acclaimed poem, The Rape of the Lock, supports female passivity and subordination in marriage; however, the fact that they are endorsed in Pope's satirical world demonstrates his hatred of these ideas, and more importantly, of the society (consisting of both men and women) that supports these conventions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayIn many ways, Belinda is infantilized; his judgment and intelligence reduced to that of a child and subject to some sort of authority figure. For example, Pope writes: “Some secret truths, hidden by learned pride/ Only maids and children are revealed” (ROTL 1.37-38). Here, “learned pride” represents men who, despite all their erudition, are unaware of the existence of chimerical creatures. Women, however, do not hesitate to believe in machines because they are as naive as children are. Her “ideas invade a vacant brain” (ROTL 1.83), which suggests that she is not capable of any substantial consideration, and certainly not of anything that transcends her “infantile thoughts” (ROTL1.29). Later, she is described as juvenile and unreasonable during her crying fits, while the Baron is heroic, surpassing even Aeneas in firmness for his refusal to return the lock of hair (ROTL 5.5). Another way to compare her to a child is her incapacity. to fend for herself and therefore needing the Sylphs, who “guard the purity of the melting maids” (ROTL 1.71). Belinda has been “claimed” (ROTL 1.105) by Ariel, which demonstrates how the woman is not only objectified by the men she meets, but also by the Sylphs. Although it is stated that their gender is interchangeable, Ariel, the Sylph primarily responsible for Belinda's well-being, is identified as a male with the masculine pronoun "he" (ROTL 1.115, etc.). By defining Ariel as a man, Pope places Belinda in the care of another virile figure. An important aspect of the child/woman comparison is that ignorance is attributed to innocence. This is intended to demonstrate the virtue and sexual purity that a woman is expected to possess, but this wholesomeness is undermined throughout the poem by the repeated suggestions of Belinda's sexual desire and even the satiation of that desire. First, the poet describes how "a beautiful birthday evening...even in his sleep made his cheeks shine." (ROTL 1.23-24) This alludes to a sexual desire so powerful in Belinda that she cannot escape it in her sleep. Pope's discussion of female desire extends to its root and the ease with which a man can arouse it. For example, in Canto 1, lines 86-90, the Pope writes: And with sweet sounds, “Your Grace” greets their ear.” at a handsome one. honor to a brocade. This implies that his worldly possessions (a brocade was usually made of rich fabric and were very expensive) were valued on the same level as his nobility. Then it indicates that his honor would be as easy to stain as brocade. The point Pope is making in his mentions of female desire is that attention is sought more than sexual gratification. For example, Belinda is described as having "a thirst for fame" (ROTL 3.25) when she sits down to play shadow. Pope's use of sexually charged vocabulary (“thirst,” “invite,” and “burn”) implies that his desire for attention is as satisfying as a sexual experience. The act of cutting the lock itself is the greatest statement on female conformity. . THE.)