Research Paper on:
Pope's Rape of the Lock & Feminist Theory

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Rape of the Lock. While Pope satirizes the use of cosmetics in regards to Belindas beauty, he also pictures beauty, regardless of how it is achieved, as a source of  feminine power. An examination of Popes The Rape of the Lock within the framework of feminist theory demonstrates several points that are relevant both to understanding Popes intent and also  the thrust of feminism in contemporary society. First of all, Popes objectification of Belinda, his having "managed" her within the overall context of his verse, demonstrates the societal need  to control the "threat" of feminine beauty to prevailing power structures. But also the power implied within this context suggests that the current position of many women towards beauty  is an effort that serves to capitalize on that power, rather than reject it, as women did at the beginning of the feminist movement (Kaminer, 2001). As this suggests, by  exploring the patriarchal attitudes expressed by Pope, the reader discovers implications that suggest that the contemporary perspective toward beauty both encompasses this perspective, yet also implies that there is a  new direction in the manner in which women perceive feminine beauty. Through the voice of Clarissa in Canto V, Pope argues the "moral" for his tale, which is that  women should be admired for their inner qualities, rather than their outward beauty. However, it is nevertheless true that Pope immortalizes Belinda through his verse precisely because of her beauty,  rather than any inner virtue. Belinda, after all, never fully materializes as a person in her own right. Rather, Belinda is objectified throughout the poem. She is her beauty, as  far as Pope is concerned, as this perspective encompasses completely how she is addressed throughout the work. Chico argues that Pope obtains his goal of gaining ascendancy over