In "Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope he is obviously making fun of the upper class and their focus on the trivial. I thought it would be interesting to examine some of the specific criticisms he is making in this poem. On page 2517 of our book, lines 91-95, Pope questions the idea of chastity. He writes "what tender maid but must a victim fall to one man's treat?" I found this criticism most interesting. If throughout the poem Pope is making fun of trivial things nobles value, that means he thinks virginity is a trivial thing. This seems like a thought that would be apart from his time considering the extreme value placed on sexual purity. This might just be his perspective as a guy and women in general were the ones valuing the chastity. Or perhaps he wouldn't be so flippant about his own wife's chastity.
Another thing Pope makes fun of is the cross that the woman is wearing. "On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, which Jews might kiss and infidels adore" (7-8). The criticism here is not about the Christianity necessarily but the pride associated with it. When Christians wear their faith in order to make Jews and infidels feel bad, then Pope has a problem.
In just two minor lines, Pope made fun of overly zealous Christians and chaste women. This poem is not a simple satire about the silly nobles and their trivial desires, Pope makes some serious criticisms. Of course he does it in a very funny, epic way.
-Molly Hakso
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