A woman’s worth therefore is directly linked to her virginity; Belinda is kept in high regard due to her maidenhead; this, when compared to the scale of worth applied to heroes in epic poetry, immediately raises the level of triviality within The Rape of the Lock. Epic heroes are considered important if they adhere to the warrior code which promulgates the idea of honourable death by fighting to defend your partner. The only battle in which women throughout The Rape of the Lock take part in is a war of meticulous words at which “reputation[s] die” with each utterance. The relationships and friendships are nothing more than appearances; Pope’s Baron does not want a woman's love, it is a prize he “aspired” towards; his past lovers are simply “trophies” defined solely by the remnants of “garters”, “gloves” and
A woman’s worth therefore is directly linked to her virginity; Belinda is kept in high regard due to her maidenhead; this, when compared to the scale of worth applied to heroes in epic poetry, immediately raises the level of triviality within The Rape of the Lock. Epic heroes are considered important if they adhere to the warrior code which promulgates the idea of honourable death by fighting to defend your partner. The only battle in which women throughout The Rape of the Lock take part in is a war of meticulous words at which “reputation[s] die” with each utterance. The relationships and friendships are nothing more than appearances; Pope’s Baron does not want a woman's love, it is a prize he “aspired” towards; his past lovers are simply “trophies” defined solely by the remnants of “garters”, “gloves” and