The Rape of the Lock: Canto One Summary

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Canto One Summary

• Introduces Belinda's daily routine.
• Illustrates her morning ritual of preparing to socialize.
• Contains common epic conventions, including an invocation.

Invocation

• The poem begins with an invocation, a prayer for inspiration from a muse.
• This epic convention is transformed to suit the purpose of this poem.
• The central theme involves a great offense arising from love.
• This offense leads to conflicts over trivial matters.
• John Carroll is addressed as "muse," indicating his role in inspiring the poem.
• Belinda also functions as a muse figure.
• Pope adapts lines from Virgil's Georgics, changing the context and meaning.
• The muse is addressed as a goddess, traditionally one of the nine Greek muses who were female.
• A question is posed as to why a well-bred lord would assault a gentle "bell," using "assault" as a sexual innuendo.
• A question is posed as to why a gentle "bell" would reject a lord.
• The attack is considered a "bold task."
• The attacker is referred to as "little men," possibly referring to Lord Peter or men who engage in foolish acts.
• A question is posed as to how women can harbor so much anger, juxtaposing the epic style with a trivial subject.
• The poem reflects and adapts phrases from Milton's Paradise Lost, creating humor through the contrast.

Belinda's Morning

• The sun hesitantly shines on Belinda's eyes, suggesting her eyes are brighter than the sun.
• This is a reversal of common Elizabethan practice.
• Belinda's lapdog wakes up, imitating its mistress's aristocratic behavior.
• "Sleepless lovers" wake up at 12 o'clock.
• Belinda rings the bell three times and uses her slipper to knock to call for her maid.
• Despite being awake, Belinda presses her watch to hear the time.
• Belinda remains lying down on her soft pillow.
• Her guardian self prolongs her sleep by summoning a morning dream.
• In the dream, a glittering youth speaks to her, causing her to blush.
• The youth whispers in her ear, reminiscent of Satan's temptation of Eve.

The Guardian Self's Speech

• The guardian self tells Belinda she is cared for by thousands of bright inhabitants of the air (selves).
• Visions Belinda might have had from nurse's tales or priest's teachings are referenced.
• Mentions "airy elves," "silver token[s]," and "circled green[s]," and stories in the bible of virgins visited by angel powers.
• Childish stories are equated with serious biblical stories.
• Belinda's importance is emphasized, and she is encouraged to disregard worldly matters.
• "Secret truths" are revealed to maids and children because they are not learned.
• It is stated that those with wit doubt everything.
• Unnumbered spirits fly around, forming the "light Malaysia of the lower sky" (selves).
• These creatures are found in theaters where the audience sit.
• Belinda is reminded of her "equipage" and is asked to reject petty proposals from mortal men.
• Selves were once enclosed in women's bodies and are transformed after death.
• After death, women's vanities are transformed, and they supervise card games.
• Women's joy in chariots and love of card games survive after death.
• After death, souls retire to their first elements.
• Fiery women become salamanders, soft yielding minds become nymphs, and graver prudes become gnomes.
• Flirtatious women become selves.
• Whoever feared and chased rejects mankind.
• Virginity allows spirits to be freed from mortal laws and assume what sex and shape they please.
• Women are protected by the selves from "the treacherous friend, the daring spark," and other temptations.
• It's honor not sense of self which stops women falling for temptation.

The Identity of the Guardian Self

• The guardian self identifies himself as Ariel.
• Ariel arranged the "crystal wilds of air" and saw a "dread event" about to happen before the sun descends.
• Ariel warns Belinda to beware of all, but most of man.
• Shark, the lapdog, wakes Belinda by licking her tongue.

Belinda Awakens

• Belinda first opens her eyes on love letters.
• Reading the letters causes the vision to vanish.
• Belinda's "toilet" (dressing table) is displayed with silver vases in mystic order.
• Belinda robed in white, adores the cosmetic powers.
• A "heavenly image" appears in the glass, suggesting narcissism.
• Belinda is compared to a priestess, and her image to a god.
• Betty, the maid, is the "inferior priestess," trembling as the "sacred rites of pride" begin.
• The opening of boxes reveals a variety of treasures.
• Treasures from India, Arabia, and Africa appear.
• Combs made from tortoise shells and elephant tusks are present.
• Pins, powders, patches bibles billet-doux are on the dressing table.
• Beauty puts on its arms, repairing smiles, awakening every grace.
• A "purer blush" arises, and eyes quicken with lightnings.
• Selves surround her, setting the head, dividing the hair, folding the sleeve and Betty is praised for labours not her own.
• The canto ends with a focus on creating beauty through curated weapons (makeup) and artifice.