18th Century Literature
`The "Rape" of Eighteenth Century SocietyIn Restoration and Eighteenth Century literature, the writers were more apt to express their desires and experiences on paper, rather than repress their behavior and experiences that the "politeness" of their society prohibited. The Restoration and Eighteenth Century have often been associated with placing high moral values on good manners, courtesy, and respect. However, this is only visible when looking at the society from the exterior. Their preoccupation with politeness was channeled into a state of mind, rather than an act. An interior examination of Restoration and Eighteenth Century society illustrates a society preoccupied with the grandeur of fashion and commodities, as well as holding an abstract view on moral principles. Material possessions were of the utmost importance, while the proper clothing and meticulous appearance became the embodiment of "politeness". On the outside they fit the archetype that their society expected, while on the inside they fit the archetype that their society created.The Rape of the Lock is a comical indictment of the vanities and redundancy of Eighteenth Century high society. Based on a real life occurrence, Pope intended for the poem to make li
Belinda authenticates this assessment by her elaborate morning ritual of getting ready for the day ahead. By writing The Rape of the Lock in the form of a mock epic, Pope classifies Eighteenth Century society by casting it against the greatness of an epic poem. Belinda is so overcome by distress that her lock of hair might be displayed publicly, and ruin her reputation, that the question of her chastity does not even come into play. Their obsession with appearance and social status fixations such as "Ombre", suggest the decadence of high society living. Though Pope may suggest that it is easy to become blind in midst of a beautiful woman, he refocuses on her ornamental conventions. The declaration that Belinda would rather lose hair "less in sight" signifies the extent to which she values outward appearance above everything else. The Rape of the Lock demonstrates that the priorities that Eighteenth Century woman boast are primarily social ones. By mocking his own society, Pope establishes Eighteenth Century society's inability to differentiate between what matters and what does not. The cross Belinda wears on her breast evokes attention to her material values, rather than expressing her value on religion. Pope ridicules a society in which values have lost all their proportion, where trivial day to day tribulations are handled with the opulence normally associated with more important issues.
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