I did, however, find a tasteful piece in Canto V. Clarissa definitely took hold of my attention when she gave the speech. The wisdom she speaks with is definitely a lesson that many overlook even in old age. The fact that she questions why people are so shallow and pursue a fading physical beauty is possible irony given by Pope, as that seems to be beauty within itself. Clarissa on many occasions mentions the superiority of good morals and good sense (a quick mind, if I may interpret). She asks near line 8 of Canto V, ". . . why are beauties praised and honored most, / The wise man's passion, and the vain man's toast." That is a question I myself ask. Why do so many people, male and female, pursue "good looks" over a stable educated mind? She is most certainly baffled, and possibly disgusted with the fact that men pursue a woman who merely looks like an angel, and is yet ignorant. If I were the Baron, or any other man in this poem, I would have most certainly pursued Clarissa and not Belinda. If I were Arabella Fermor to whom the poem is addressed, and I had been told I was represented by Belinda, I would be rather upset, despite Pope's preface.
Maybe this is also a question Pope is asking himself . . . or one he wishes more people believed so that he could be unchained from social expectations.
"Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul." :)
Oh, and is that a heart to the left of line 35-36 in Canto V...?
- Will Drake
(edit 9/8/11: Forgot to post about my comment. It's on Joy's)
I must say Clarissa was probably my favorite character. She was bold in what she had to say, though few listened. This story was indeed quite satirical by Pope. I think he had a lot of things he wanted people to question, one of them being what you had in your post, "why are beauties praised and honored most, / The wise man's passion, and the vain man's toast." I am not sure how many peoples attention it caught, but it caught mine. I think you are right, Mrs. Fermor should be upset. She was in a sense depicted as nothing more than a pretty face...
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that Pope satirizes everything in the poem. Should we take Clarissa's protest at face value? One of the main targets for Pope, Swift, and Voltaire is empty moral rhetoric that is disconnected from action.
ReplyDeleteAs to the mark next to the line: that's one of the strange marks for passages I developed in grad school. It's sort of an inverted paragraph sign, but I have no idea where it came from--I just needed a readily identifiable sign for my own notations.
On the contrary (how Thomast of me), I find the poetry quite enjoyable. I do, however, agree that Clarissa's speech is the most intriguing. I find comfort in knowing that there are still sensible "Barons" in the world who would choose the Clarissa over the Belinda. I hesitate to consider myself a Clarissa for the single purpose of not wanting to sound prideful. However, I do share her mentality towards the subject of beauty and women's follies. Whether this state of though comes across in my life, I know not. I believe that no matter how much like Clarissa each of us is (women, of course), we always have a twinge of Belinda. I myself have cried at the cutting of my hair or even just a bad hair day. However, I find myself entertained, encouraged and challenged by Clarissa's speech. I fully intend on re-evaluating my sense of beauty and resetting my priorities. Homework before manicures ;)
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