This task is assigned by vaidehi madam and here I'm going to share my points about the charecter of Belinda. If Belinda was born in this century what she will do.
"The Rape of the Lock" was a mock-heroic narrative poem written by Alexander Pope and first published in 1712, then reworked and published again in 1714.
It was one of the most commonly cited examples of high burlesque, it was first published anonymously in Lintot's Miscellaneous Poems and Translations (May 1712) in two cantos a revised edition "Written by Mr. Pope" followed in March 1714 as a five-canto version accompanied by six engravings. Pope boasted that this sold more than three thousand copies in its first four days. The final form of the poem appeared in 1717 with the addition of Clarissa's speech on good humour. The poem was much translated and contributed to the growing popularity of mock-heroic in Europe.
◆Analysis of Belinda's Character in 17th century◆
The protagonist of the poem, Belinda is a wealthy and beautiful young woman who travels to Hampton Court for a day of socializing and leisure. Her remarkable beauty attracts the attention of the Baron, who snips off a lock of her hair in his infatuation. At the beginning of the narrative, Ariel explains to Belinda through the medium of a dream that as she is a both beautiful and a virgin, it is his task to watch over her and protect her virtue though as the poem unfolds, it’s unclear if Belinda is really as virtuous as she seems. Despite the fact that Belinda is Pope’s protagonist, she’s actually a bit of a slippery character to come to terms with, as the reader is provided with relatively little access to her inner thoughts, and her actions are often governed by supernatural forces. For instance, it is unclear how much influence Ariel, a sylph, is able to exert over her, and there is some suggestion that he actively toys with her morality. He claims it is her virginity which makes her worthy of guarding but sends her a dream of a handsome young man, “A youth more glitt'ring than a birthnight beau,” tempting her sexuality. Similarly, at the end of the poem, Umbriel, throws over her and Thalestris a bag of “Sighs, sobs and passions” and also empties a vial of “sorrows” over her too, meaning the rage she flies into is not entirely of her own volition. Fundamentally, as her name suggests with its literal meaning of “beautiful”, all readers can really know about Belinda is that she is attractive.
Belinda is based on the real-life figure of Arabella Fermor, who also had a lock of her hair cut off by a suitor.
◆Analysis of Belinda's character with today's perspective◆
If we think about Belinda's character in today's perspective we find lot many changes in the character. Some of i want to discuss here:
Nowadays beauty is considered as costly clothes, beautiful faces filled with makeup. People judge everyone with their look ! As we know that hair is part of beauty, not for only girls but also for boys. And cutting down of hair is big thing for girls. If we cut hair without their permission it becomes cause of fight also ! Everything is change with the change of time. So if Belinda is present today and the same thing is happened she will do FRI against Baron also. If Belinda is poor in present time then this matter is not affect to her and everybody but, if she is rich then it become spices for social media. They put headlines ,
Belinda's hair was cut !!!
Was this a deliberate conspiracy?
What made Belinda so famous?
Belinda have secret affair with Baron !!!
She is doing show-off with the help of her hair ?
Has Belinda adopted this new style? Blah blah blah..
There is number of list for this topic. If we talk with other perspective we can see that cutting down of the hair is one type of insult. Girls can't tolerate her insult. Even they are very confuse about their hair and style, if they have long hair they want to cut their hair, and after haircut they feel like they want her hair back.
Mood of girls are changing in 5 minutes ( not minutes but in seconds ! ). They mood is like that of China and they gets upset at any moment.
Girls are more conscious about their beauty and hair is one of the most important part of her beauty.
We know that womens are jealous with other womens. This is one thing that remain true since ancient time. And I think it will continue in future also ! Because some womens are can't see that another women can have more beautiful face, more money, good virtue and good family. They feel very jealous when some other guys praising other women.
Yes here we can't forget that Belinda's attitude is i think the same thing which Belinda refer in this 21st century. Belinda continue her Attitude in front of everyone. Then she share her beauty with the help of different medium of application.
