Choices! What will it be? #24

_{Photo Credit: @patjewell}

What will it be?

It will be Lock

The word "lock" is polysemic. It means different things to different people. However, the context used determines what meaning it takes.

If it were to refer to a door, the speaker might imply that they need to fasten it with a key.

For instance: Remember to lock that door when you step out, Taiwo.

This implies that the speaker needs Taiwo to fasten the door with a key.

When I was younger, this was the only meaning I knew until I read a poem titled, “The Rape of the Lock” in my sophomore year. Then, I discovered that “lock” could mean a tuft of hair or wool.

Let me give you a short, detailed summary of the poem.

“The Rape of the Lock” is a satirical mock-epic poem written by Alexander Pope in 1712. It's a funny poem that makes fun of how people in 18th-century England cared way too much about how they looked and what others thought of them. It exaggerates how silly and unimportant these things are in a clever way.

The poem is divided into five cantos (749 lines) and is based on a real-life incident: Lord Petre's cutting off a lock of hair from Arabella Fermor's head. This story was recounted to Alexander Pope by John Caryll, his friend.

Pope takes this seemingly insignificant event and transforms it into a grand epic, complete with supernatural elements and heroic language.

The poem starts by talking about Belinda, a really pretty but self-absorbed young woman who's super popular in London. She's getting ready for a boat ride on the River Thames, and the poem humorously describes all the fancy stuff she does to get ready. Her hair is a big deal, and the poem even compares it to something super important like a priest's special clothes.

The poem brings in tiny magical creatures called sylphs and gnomes. They're like little guardians who keep an eye on Belinda and her friends. Each of these creatures represents different parts of being overly focused on looks and having too much fun. Belinda's guardian Sylph, Ariel, warns her that “some dread event impends”, but she dismisses his concerns.

The big moment in the poem occurs when Baron, a young man infatuated with Belinda, snips off a lock of her hair while she is playing a card game called ombre at Hampton Court. Although he was prevented by the Sylphs, Baron finally succeeds after the third trial. This whole thing is made to sound super dramatic and serious, even though it's just a haircut prank. The poem satirises how people overreact to small stuff like this.

When Belinda discovers that one of her locks had been “raped” (forcefully taken) she begins to fall into a tantrum. People plead with the prideful Baron to return the lock but he remains unrepentant.

“The Rape of the Lock” criticises the shallowness and artificiality of high society, where trivial matters are blown out of proportion. Alexander Pope uses humour, wit, and irony to expose the vanity and pettiness of the poem's characters and their obsession with appearance and social status.

Recall that “lock” means different things at different times. It could be to fasten a door with keys or a length of hair of wool. The best way to identify the meaning of the word is in the context used.

Thank you for reading my summary of this mock-epic by Alexander Pope. Attached to this post is My Achievement 1 for those who would like to know me better.

Sincere appreciation to @yhudy for inviting me to this contest. Looking forward to reading your entries in the next contest @emily08 @jozzie90 @sariana23 @kyrie1234.

_{Published on 25.09.2023
By 9:07 PM}