Analyze The Efficacy of Language In The Rape Of Lock

Isaac Atayero

Sir. John Campion

AP English Language

03/30/12

Efficacy of Language in The Rape Of Lock

    Every writer knows how important the type of language that is used in a writing piece is . Using the appropriate language can be the difference between a masterpiece and a terrible piece of literature . Alexander Pope, a satirist, mastered the craft of satirical writing and his satire, The Rape Of Lock, is testimony to this. Pope’s use of  humorous language contributes to the effectiveness of the satire. One of many examples of Pope’s use of language in The Rape of Lock is the card battle. Pope language diligently fuses different themes together to create a silly and very hilarious scenario. When reading any part of Pope’s work, one should keep in mind that the poem is silly because the language is silly. The silly, yet brilliant , use of language allows the poem to be truly amusing for both the reader and the writer. The efficacy of the language in The Rape of Lock is what makes it such an ingenious piece.

      In the comedic piece, The Rape of Lock , there are many instances of the effectiveness of witty language but the most outstanding example of this occurs during Canto 3. This is the scene in which Belinda plays, Ombre, a three - handed game of cards with two “Britain statesmen”(6) . Pope intensifies the card game by characterizing as a heroic battle. At different points in the poem, the poem possesses many of the characteristics of a mock-heroic. The card battle is definitely one of such scenes. Pope compares the cards to “each band the number of the sacred nine”(30) ; making the simple game of tricks and crafts sound much more aggressive than it actually is.

    Pope goes on to satirize epic combats when he writes that the cards “draw forth to combat on the velvet plain” (44). By doing this , Alexander Pope not only mocks heroic battles but he also devises a comical atmosphere because of his pompous description of the ordinary game. This is where the genius of the language that Pope uses in his poem comes to play. the entire poem becomes not only a brilliant example of Horatian Satire but a masterpiece that dives into the silliness and light humor that every piece of Horatian Satire should be. This type of satire should be able to provoke humor without offending ; It should also be solely used for entertaining purposes.

     Pope’s use of military language during the game of cards enhances the effectiveness of the satire which causes the poem to be silly. At the beginning of the games, Belinda is assissted by the “skillful nymphs”(45), who help her “review her forces with cares”(45). Under the guidance of the Sylphs., Belinda is able begin the battle with much favor. This causes Belinda to become very confident so she calls for the  “Spades be trumps...and trumps they were”(46) .This is significant because Belinda’s confidence causes her to play the game with her highest cards. She plays with her “sable Matadors...led off two captive trumps, and swept the board...”(47-50), all the while expecting nothing but triumph.

      However, much to Belinda’s chagrin , her luck takes a turn  for a “sad chance of war”(64). The games changes gears when :

    The Baron fate inclines the field.

    His warlike Amazon her host invades (86-87).

The Baron is able to capture Belinda’s “embroidered King”(76) with “his refulgent Queen”(78) . This turn of events causes the Baron to embark on “an easy conquest find...Diamonds, Hearts”(79-80). Again , the reader can see Pope use the language to highlight the silliness of the intensity of the scene. Belinda is now truly at the mercy of the Baron and at risk of losing the game of cards. Belinda is able to recover from her loss in the very last tricks “just in the jaws of ruins and codille”(92).

     As Belinda wins back just enough to barely win , the language used to describe the scene becomes even more grandiose. The ridiculous use of the language in this scene makes the idea of the scene even sillier than it actually is. In the following lines Pope’s audience can experience Pope use of unnecessarily yet accurately placed grand language.

   He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,

   And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace...

   Sudden, these honors shall be snateched away

    And cursed forever this victorious day (99-104).

    The language is absolutely silly which is what  makes the poem one of the more striking examples of Horatian satire. This type of satire is meant only to amuse which is exactly what Alexander Pope manages to do. After the epic card battle is the ceremony of the serving of the coffee. During the serving of the coffee “the fuming liquor”(114) reminded the Baron of his mission to attempt a lock of Belinda’s precious hair. The Baron is successful with in carrying out his mission but he causes quite a chaotic scene in doing so. The scene in which the Baron uses “the two-edged weapon”(128) is truly one of the more humorous scenes in Pope’s great poem. Canto 3 is arguably the best part of Mr. Alexander Pope’s splendid masterwork.

     Language is a very crucial step in the process of executing the appropriate atmosphere of any piece of writing. Alexander Pope shows his mastery of this craft in Canto 3 of the brilliantly executed piece of Horatian Satire known as The Rape of Lock. In the Canto 3, the very ridiculous, yet very intense , game of cards takes place.Throughout this scene, pope repeatedly uses appropriate language to bring out the humor of the poem. Even in the scenes that follow, Pope carefully incorporates themes of a mock heroic in his work. Alexander Pope’s satire,The Rape of Lock,is a perfect example of the usefulness and efficacy of language in a piece of literature.