Discuss the role of Supernatural machinery

in “ The Rape of the Lock”.

Q No 5:

Discuss the role of Supernatural machinery in “ The Rape 

of the Lock”.

Answer:

The use of supernatural machinery like the gods, angels, devils and so on
is an important feature of epic poetry. It is found in epics of different countries
from Illied to Paradise Lost. Every epic based upon the relation between men
and women and the higher super natural divine powers who shape their destiny.
It actually is an inalienable part of epic writings and raises the central action of
epic to the metaphysical world.

Keeping this tradition of epic poetry alive Pope has also used

supernatural elements in “The Rape of the Lock". Pope has two alternatives. He
could use the Christian or the Classic Greek machinery. But the use of Christian
machinery would not have served his purpose in the mock-epic. Whereas keeping
in mind the mock-epic theme of “The Rape of the Lock", the use of Classical
Greek machinery was also not an easy job.

All this compelled Pope to use some different kind of supernatural

machinery that could serve his purpose. As “The Rape of the Lock” was meant
to satirize the vanities, bogus moralities and unchaste thinking of 18 th century men
and women, Pope skillfully used the petty spirits like Sylphs, Nymphs, Gnomes
and Salamanders. These tiny spirits are in reality representatives of different
kinds of 18th century women.

These tiny spirits serves variety of purpose in “The Rape of the

Lock". They are very important dramatically, thematically and structurally
for the poem. Keeping up the tradition of series epic, Pope has introduced
these microscopic spirits. Through this supernatural machinery Pope creates
the impression that the heroic part is over and Pseudo heroism and artificiality
has taken its place. The non-heroic characters of 18 th century beaus and belles
are highlighted through supernatural machinery.

They are not merely mock-epic elements, nor are they merely
instruments of satire on the aristocracy; they also bring out fine passages of
poetry from Pope.

Through these tiny spirits Pope mirrors and mocks at the 18th century

aristocratic conventions and customs. The way Ariel disclosed to protect chastity
of women from plotting Lords is a mock in itself. Most of the speeches of Ariel as
well as his visit to cave of spleen move simultaneously on mirroring and mocking.

Pope’s use of this supernatural machinery is clever. The size of these tiny
spirits is also very important. Their tiny size highlights the triviality and
pettiness of the thinking of aristocratic women of Pope’s age. These tiny spirits
indicate that how trivial and tiny were the ways and customs of the women of his
age.
 From all this description of the Sylph’s machinery it is perfectly clear
that Pope made it an integral part of poem. This machinery vastly enriched the
literary mockery and made the poem a work of timeless appeal.