Appearance is only skin deep?

There’s some controversy over who Pope is writing Rape of the Lock to, and what point he is trying to get across. Is Pope writing to Belinda? Is he telling her not to be so vain? However, in the beginning letter, he tells her that it’s not about her that Belinda’s character only reflects her beauty. So is writing about the vanity of women during this time period? I believe that Pope is in some ways blaming it on society. All throughout the Rape of the Lock, he makes these little comments that would allow you to believe that it’s not just the ladies’ fault, it’s the man’s as well. In the very beginning in his letter to Arabella, Pope says that “any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with these gentle spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true adepts, and inviolate preservation of chastity.” So you must be chaste to enjoy these spirits, there must be something honorable about you, you must be stainless and decent. However, the people of this time were only concerned about how they appeared on the outside. There wasn’t a true chaste about anyone, but it was all only pretense. It’s clear that to be a lady you must be honorable. Where was their honor found? In their beauty! It’s the only way they attained honor. They put so much attention and care into their appearance it became the only importance. 

“Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms; The fair each moment rises in her charms, Repairs her smiles, awakens every grace, And calls forth all the wonders of her face; Sees by degrees a purer blush arise, And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes, The busy Sylphs surround their darling care, These set the head, and those divide the hair, Some fold the sleeve, whilst others plait the gown; And Betty’s praised for labors not her own.”

What becomes of all this labor and toil? She’s praised, she’s adored, you couldn’t find one bad thing to say about this girl because she was so beautiful! “But every eye was fixed on her alone.” “If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you’ll forget ‘em all.” Was this idea created by the woman herself? I don’t think it was.  I think society poisoned Belinda in this way. It doesn’t matter if she does something wrong! Shoot, look at how dang pretty she is, how could we condemn her! 

Of course, we all know the rest of the story, beauty is fleeting, therefore, Belinda loses her precious lock of hair. So why do not only the ladies, but also the men put such an emphasis on appearance? Why are the most beautiful to be most honored? Pope asks this question himself.

“Say why are beauties praised and honored mosts” 

Is Pope suggesting that appearances are stupid and that we should all just forget completely about looks? No, God created beauty for a reason. There is something more we’re to gain from beauty. “How vain are all these glories, all our pains, Unless good sense preserve what beauty gains” I don’t think these people found it, I don’t think we have either. Pope ends with some good advice, and I would like to do the same:

“But since, alas! frail beauty must decay, 

Curled or uncurled, since locks will turn to gray;

Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade,

And she who scorns a man must die a maid;

What then remains but well our power to use,

And keep good humor still whate’er we lose?

And trust me, dear, good humor can prevail

When airs, and flights, and screams, and scolding fail. 

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll;

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.”