The Rape of the Lock as a mock epic or heroic poem

“The Rape of the Lock” is the most famous poem of Alexander Pope. It is a mock heroic poem in which the poet has criticized the contemporary social life. One of the important elements of this epic poem is the use of supernatural elements and it looks like Pope has written it in a mock heroic style. Supernatural elements are an important part of any epic poem, but in “The Rape of the Lock”, they are often laughable and funny persons. There are other mock heroic elements too. Apart from supernatural elements, Pope also criticizes the society and characters.

A mock heroic poem is a poem in which the epic style is mocked. By epic, we normally understand the epic poems and books of the western civilization of ancient Greece and Rome. “Illiad” and “Oddessy” of Homer are perhaps the best example of epic poems and books. In mock heroic poems, the poets follow that style. In English literature, Dryden used this style successfully. Then Pope used it in a very good way in “The Rape of the Lock” poem. A mock heroic poem is much shorter in length, something that is ridiculed or made fun at. The tone is a bit serious but the readers understand that the poet is making fun.

Perhaps the most important mock heroic element is the theme or subject matter of the poem. The theme is very simple. In “The Rape of the Lock”, the plot or story takes place in London in a single day. At first, we can find that Belinda is preparing herself for a party that would take place later in the day. Then the party takes place and the Baron cuts a lock of her hair from Belinda’s head. Yes, the story of the poem is as simple as that but Pope treats the story very seriously.

Based around this theme, Pope presents everything very seriously. Pope mocked at the shallow level of the aristocratic people of his time. They had nothing to do but waste their time on nonsense things. Pope also mocked at the rich girls like Belinda who cared for beauty instead of brain.

The Baron was a shallow person too. All he cared for was rich girls like Belinda. The characterization in this poem also contains mock heroic styles. If we think of characters like Helen or Hector in “Iliad” and then compare them with Belinda and the Baron then we will realize how shallow they are.

"But since, alas! frail Beauty must decay,  Curl'd or uncurl'd, since Locks will turn to grey;  Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade,  And she who scorns a Man, must die a Maid,  What then remains but well our Pow'r to use,  And keep good Humour still whate'er we lose?"

Although Pope mocked at the rich ladies and young girls of her time, he failed to go deeply about this matter. Yes, girls like Belinda had no brain but just beauty. But it happened because girls at that age did not have freedom. They could get formal education from college and universities. Their properties were owned by their husbands, brothers or fathers. 

In epic poems, there are supernatural elements. In Homer’s two epics, we can find that Greek Gods like Zeus were more powerful than human beings and controlled many things. However, in “The Rape of the Lock”, the supernatural elements did not have any power at all. The supernatural elements in Pope’s poem are nothing more than jokers.

People of the eighteenth century became reasonable and rational. For this reason, Alexander Pope could not use the classic elements in his poem. So, if Pope had directly used epic form then his poem would not be acceptable among the people. For this reason, he used epic elements in his poem but in mockery way. Female is the main item of mockery. To make satire or mockery, he used supernatural elements. In an epic, we can see that supernatural figures are very important but in this poem, staying sylphs with Belinda all the time in all places indicate that Pope has mocked to the ladies of his society.

After reading the poem carefully, I have to accept the fact that Pope was a good poet and “The Rape of the Lock” is a successful mock heroic poem.