Alexander Pope as the Representative of His Age

A writer who deeply observes his society and portrays its realities in his work is called the representative of his age. Alexander Pope is one such writer. Through his famous mock-epic ‘The Rape of the Lock’, he exposes the bitter realities of 18th-century English society. His satire covers everything—from fashion and vanity to corruption and injustice. In the opening lines, the poet acquaints us with the sluggishness and lethargy of ladies.

Now lap-dogs give themselves the rousing shake,

And sleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake.

The ladies are in habit of sleeping very late at night. In fact, they go to attend musical and dance parties at night. They get up at twelve and go to sleep again. They dream of being wives of great men like dukes, peers and gallants. They are also in a habit of keeping pet animals with them.

Belinda has been described as the representative of the 18th century society where vulgarity, hypocrisy, corruption and so many other vices were prevailing. Pope describes in an amusing manner that the ladies and dandies have enough leisure time to indulge in frolics and amorous affairs. The young dandies write letters in conventional language to express their feelings of so-called love.

The toilet scene contributes to reinforce the idea that the main concern of the fashionable ladies was the make-up and the use of cosmetics with an earnest aim to enhance their beauty, charm and fascination. Belinda takes special pains to paint herself with powder, patches and perfumes.

Here files of pins extend their shining rows,

Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet-doux.

In the 18th century, patches were small black beauty marks made of silk or velvet. Women stuck them on their faces—on the cheek, near the mouth, or on the forehead. Different positions had different meanings: A patch near the mouth meant flirtation, on the forehead meant boldness and near the eye meant mystery. Pope has mocked this fashion by treating patches as important symbols. In reality, they were just bits of black silk. But women spent hours deciding where to place them.

Belinda uses Arabian scents and Indian gold and enhances the charm of her beautiful eyes. After preparation, she takes a view of herself from every angle. Betty, her maid-servant also tries her level best to assist her mistress and uses all the available sources for the specific purpose of heightening the charm of her beauty. Belinda goes to attend a party, where a number of gallants, fops and dandies are also present but they were very indifferent to each other. We come to know that to the people of the 18th century, it was quite equal to lose a necklace or heart. It was a matter of equal anxiety to crack China's jar and to violate the laws of virginity. The ladies valued equally the death of a pet animal and dear husband. It was equally lamentable to forget a dance party or prayers. All these things show how dreadful conditions were there in the 18th century society.

An important point is that the 18th century society was morally bankrupt and showed an attitude of total indifference to the moral code and ethical ideas and ideals. Pope has exposed the society by telling us that they valued the most sacred book namely Bible equal to the patches, powders and perfumes, that was why the Bible had been placed among the cosmetics.

The ladies were jealous of one another. The society was also suffering from the disease of hypocrisy. Belinda mourns the loss of her hair. She is not concerned to her respect but in fact, she is mourning the loss of a great source of beauty. The ladies were very hotheaded and they exaggerated even trivial matters. They used to express their anger at the top of their voice.

What mighty contests rise from trivial things.

Pope has also made the men a butt of ridicule. The fops and dandies strive with one another to win lady's heart and to make love with them. The social injustice has also been ridiculed and Pope has satirized this field in a satiric manner. The jurymen and the judges are also corrupt and Pope tells that they declare verdicts hastily to get rid of their boring official duties. They don't pay any heed to human life. They are unscrupulous enough to prefer satisfaction of belly to the social justice. Same was the case with the politicians. They were also detestable and cunning. They did not like to perform their duties in the best possible manner.

The hungry judges soon the sentence sign,

And wretches hang that jurymen may dine.

In conclusion, Alexander Pope truly deserves the title of 'representative of his age.' He exposes its vanity, hypocrisy, corruption, and moral bankruptcy. He mocks both men and women equally. He attacks not just fashion, but also the legal system, politics, and religion. His satire is sharp, but it is also fair. Pope laughs at society, but he also mourns its failures. That is why his work remains relevant even today.