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The Rape Of The Lock As A Satire Of Society Analysis

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How is The Rape of the Lock a satire of society?
The Rape of the lock is a satire of society because it is written based on the view of the upper English society; better known as high society. It was written to make a mockery of the upper-class behavior concerning the cutting of a lock of hair. We must consider that a woman’s hair is looked upon as her glory. In Belinda’s case she has a beauty that men look upon but dare not touch. When the baron cuts her lock of hair, he breaks trust. After trying to cut her hair three times, he would have given up, instead it only inspired him to complete the mission he had planned to do. One would think the cutting of a lock of hair would be trivial matter but not at this time nor in this era.
The cutting of the lock of hair which seemed a small thing that stirred up a raging feud between two families of high class. It is expressed in Canton IV: “E’re felt such rage, resentment and despair as thou, sad virgin for thy ravished hair.” This is devastating to Belinda, so much so it was called The Rape of the Lock. Raped is Unexpected, taken advantage of and devastating to Belinda as well as her beauty. The scar of physical rape is permanent. Innocence is taken without permission given, she had been violated yet expected to continue as if nothing happened. What types of satire are used in The Rape of the Lock?
Pope was asked to use humor to show how miniscule the cutting of the lock of hair was to cause a feud between two families that had known or been acquainted with each other for many years over a lock of hair.
How does Pope use satire to convey his argument?
It is written “what mighty contest rise from trivial things,” something small like a lock of hair causing a whirlwind of despair. Trivial matters would seem to be unimportant to the upper society but in this case and others we find small sparks can light large fires such as this feud between these two families over a Lock of hair that will eventually grow again.

2. Discuss the use of satire in A Modest Proposal..., especially through the use of sarcasm and verbal irony.
In that satire regarding A Modest Proposal, there is verbal irony meaning when you say one thing and mean the exact opposite of what

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