"The Rape of the Lock"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the poem, "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope, with a focus on Clarissa's speech. It contends that due to Pope's clever use of poetic devises, Clarissa's speech also points to Pope's critique of high society's overall vanity and shallowness. It also discusses how Clarissa's moralizing therefore addresses universal human issues that Pope deftly examines throughout the poem.

From the Paper:

"Clarissa begins the speech by noting that beauty is the most honored and valued attribute in a woman, and she poses the rhetorical question to her audience: "why are Beauties prais'd and honour'd most..." Society is so obsessed with beauty, claims Clarissa, that appearances are even the "wise man's Passion." In fact, women are so valued for their physical beauty that they are likened to celestial beings: they are "Angels called," and "Angel-like adored." Clarissa further states that men are so taken by women's looks that they will crane their necks, going out of their way to admire feminine physical charms."

More papers on "The Rape of the Lock":

• Poem Review # 71187 : "The Rape of the Lock"
• Comparison Essay # 32576 : "Paradise Lost" and the "Rape of the Lock"
• Analytical Essay # 58895 : "The Rape of the Lock"
• Poem Review # 29997 : "The Rape of the Lock"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: