The Rape of the Lock (1712; revised 1714) is a mock-epic poem by Alexander Pope, widely considered one of the finest examples of satire in English literature. Written in heroic couplets, the poem humorously exaggerates a trivial social incident—a young nobleman’s theft of a lock of hair from a high-society lady—into an epic battle, parodying the grandeur of classical epics like Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid.
The poem was inspired by a real-life incident involving Arabella Fermor and Lord Petre, two members of prominent Roman Catholic families. Pope wrote the poem to ease tensions between the families by turning the affair into playful satire. The title uses “rape” in its archaic sense, meaning “seizure” or “theft.”
The central character, Belinda, represents Arabella Fermor, and her stolen lock of hair becomes the focus of an epic narrative involving sylphs (airy spirits), gods, and mock-heroic battles at a card game and a tea party. The theft of the lock is portrayed with exaggerated seriousness, mimicking the tone and structure of classical epics to ridicule the vanity, superficiality, and trivial concerns of aristocratic society.
Pope’s use of elevated language and classical references to describe mundane events is both clever and comical. The poem ends with the lock of hair being lost and transformed into a star, immortalizing Belinda’s beauty.
The Rape of the Lock remains a brilliant blend of wit, poetic craftsmanship, and social commentary, showcasing Pope’s genius in combining form and satire.
