Mock Epic Explained: The Rape of the Lock

Epic poems have grand and lofty themes which describe great things and happenings and use bombastic, fantastic and flowery language. Similarly, the heroes of epic works are often of very high status e.g., a prince, a king or an adventurer. However, in mock-epic aka mock-heroic, a trivial theme is described on epic level. In simple words, little things are made great and great things are made little. The language and style remain the same (great) but the theme, characters, incidents and happenings get changed (trivial) and the contrast assumes a very funny shape.

What dire offence from amorous causes springs,

What mighty contests rise from trivial things.

The term ‘mock-epic’ sometimes creates a misunderstanding. Some people think that mock-epic means to make fun of or to ridicule the epic style and structure but it is a stereotyped notion. This misconception should be shed off before discussing ‘The Rape of the Lock’ as a mock epic.

‘The Rape of the Lock’ deals with a trivial subject and comes up to the expectations of mock-epic/heroic. The very title of the poem suggests a very funny idea but in a serious tone. ‘The Rape of the Lock’ is all about cutting a ringlet of hair (trivial), but it has been described in terms of rape (a very serious and heinous crime). It means that a great word ‘Rape’ has been used for a trivial thing (cutting of a ringlet). A very serious crime has been compared with a venial and excusable fault. In this way, little things have been made great and vice versa.

Pope was well aware of all the epic traditions and he has made their maximal use in his masterpiece. In epic poems, the heroes are often risk-takers and adventurers. Before launching themselves on some great adventure, they make preparations in a grand style. They wear arms and armours. They are assisted by their fellow beings. They become giant-killers and do great deeds. All this happens in ‘The Rape of the Lock’. We find Belinda making special preparations in a lofty style. She makes use of powders, patches and perfumes to enhance the charm, attraction and fascination of her beauty and to create a hypnotic effect in the eyes of the beholders. She also makes use of Arabian perfumes and Indian gold.

This casket India's glowing gems unlocks,

And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.

After preparations, she becomes a killer of millions (just like the warriors).

In epic poem, heroes are assisted by their fellow beings. Belinda was also helped by her maid-servant who makes the fullest use of all the available sources to serve the particular purpose of enhancing the charm of her beauty and thus killing the dandies.

Poets make the fullest use of supernatural machinery in epic-poems. Sometimes, the heroes of epic poem are helped and assisted by heavenly powers like angels and gods. They are usually saved by celestial beings. Same is the case with the heroine of ‘The Rape of the Lock’. She is guarded by celestial beings. Pope has introduced supernatural machinery in the shape of sylphs, gnomes, salamanders etc. in this poem.

When Baron decides to cut Belinda's glorious, shining and attractive ringlet, he is given a two-edged weapon by Clarissa (a woman). In fact, in epic works, the fighters and warriors are helped and assisted by some lady at the very crucial moment during fight. The word two-edged weapon (great thing) has been used for a mere pair of scissors (small thing); it also increases the effect of mock epic.

‘The Rape of the Lock’ has a number of qualities common to great epic works like 'Paradise Lost', 'Faerie Queene' and epic works of Homer and Virgil.

In ‘Paradise Lost’, Adam and Eve are tempted by Satan and the angels, who hitherto were assisting them, left them with heavy hearts. They could save them from the clutches of evil designs of Satan. They remained powerless and helpless in face of man's own free will. Same is the case with Belinda. She was guarded by sylphs and when Baron was about to cut her lock of hair, the celestial gnomes warn her against the hovering danger. But she pays no heed to their voice. Like angels, the celestial beings also leave her in lurch very grudgingly and unwillingly. They tried to defend her but they become helpless and powerless in the face of Belinda's free will.

The poet gives a description of the underworld which recalls in our mind the scene of ‘Faerie Queene’ in which Archimago sends a spirit to the god of sleep 'Morpheus' to get a misleading dream. In ‘The Rape of the Lock’, Baron cuts Belinda’s lock and she cries at the top of her voice and a cunning gnome goes to the cave of Spleen and brings bags of sighs and bottles of tears to pour over Belinda’s head to intensify her plight.

Belinda's shield has been compared with the shield of Ajax (major character in the ancient Greek epic poem The Iliad by Homer). The genealogy of Belinda's bodkin is also an example of epic tradition.

In the end, we can conclude that ‘The Rape of the Lock’ is a great masterpiece created by Pope. It should be easily regarded as a mock-epic because it comes up to the expectations of epic structure and style and provokes our laughter.