R.B.PATIL

The Supernatural Machinery of The Rape Of The Lock

Introduction

Use of supernatural machinery has been one of the prominent and traditional features of an epic. In “The Rape of the Lock”, Pope has skillfully and artistically used this machinery. The 1712 version of the Rape of lock was in two Cantos. The emphasis in this version is chiefly on the quarrel between Belinda (Historically Miss Arabella Fermor) and the Baron (Historically Robert Lord Petre). But the immense popularity of the poem inspired the Pope to enlarge it in to five Cantos. In this second version he used supernatural machinery extensively. He added the supernatural machinery of sylphs, gnomes and also the episode of the Cave of Spleen.

In his dedicatory letter to miss Arabella Fermor, Pope writes “the Machinery, Madam is term invented by critic to signify that part which the deities, angels or demons are made to act in a poem” The Principal source of Pope Supernatural Machinery

The supernatural machinery of the poem is derived from the Rosicrucian Doctrine as formulated by Le Comte in Germany in the 17th century. According to this theory four elements – Fire, Water, Earth& Air, were inhabited by four kinds of spirits–Salamanders, Nymphs, Gnomes and Sylphs. In this poem Pope does not put all these spirits to function but simply Sylphs & an evil spirit Umbrid are put in action. The Sylphs are presented as tiny good spirits with wings. They are airy and invisible to the human eyes . Other Sources

Pope did not rely solely on the Rosicrucian theory of spirits. Instead , he borrowed and adapted feely from many other ancient and Renaissance sources. The fairy -like, brilliant appearance of the sylphs owes something to the fairies of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ariel’s name is directly lifted from The Tempest.

Pope’s Transformation of the Source Material :

The extensive borrowings and adaptations in respect of the supernatural machinery of the poem do not mean that Pope has only assimilated and not recreated his Sylphs and Gnomes.The fact is that Pope has tried to create the whole machinery with a view to its suitability for the poem. He has changed the attributes of the Sylphs and Gnomes. Pope’s Ariel has little in common with Shakespeare’s Ariel in The Tempest

Characteristic Features of Super Natural Machinery

The machines (spirits) as diminutive beings

The spirits introduced in the poem are diminutive beings. They have insect wings ; they can change their shape and sex ,can see the future , can inspect the heart of the mortals. They are airy and unsubstantial and remain invisible to the human eye. Ariel is their chief.

The metamorphosis that Pope has brought out makes his super natural beings quite distinct and unique. His Sylphs are tiny, transparent and beautiful , butterfly –like aerial beings . They belong to a race that lives in the pure light of sky.

In the first canto the Sylph causes a dream to Belinda, the heroine of the poem. The Sylph appears in the form of a handsome young man in her dream at the noon time. The Guardian sylph addresses Belinda as "fairest of mortal" and she is told that she is protected by thousands of spirits who wanders in airy regions.

The sylph has caused sleep and dream to Belinda with a special purpose as he wants to convey certain Secret truths. The Sylph says the Belinda should not consider herself. As common girl she is someone special. Certain secrets are not revealed to them who are intellectual and skeptics. The secret truths are revealed to woman and children who by Nature are very innocent. Thousands of sylphs are protecting Belinda so she should feel proud. The sylph says basically there are four kinds of women. 1. The women who are quarrelsome after their death, their soul goes to fire and such a woman salamander. 2. Those women who are polite and submissive, after th submissiveeir death their soul returns to water and they become Nymphs 3.Those women who are who are proud , serious-minded, their soul go to Earth and they become gnome. 4. Those woman who are Flirt and coquette, after their death their soul go to air and they become Sylphs. Through these tiny spirits Pope mirrors and mocks at the 18th century aristocratic conventions and customs. The way Ariel disclosed to protect chastity of women from plotting Lords is a mock in itself. Most of the speeches of Ariel as well as his visit to cave of spleen move simultaneously on mirroring and mocking. Pope’s use of this supernatural machinery is clever. The size of these tiny spirits is also very important. Their tiny size highlights the triviality and pettiness of the thinking of aristocratic women of Pope’s age. These tiny spirits indicate that how trivial and tiny were the ways and customs of the women of his age.

The Function of the Supernatural Machinery

The seupernatural machinery plays a very significant role in the poem. They heighten the effect of the mock-epic. They are “the guides and guardians of the purity of melting maids.” Their function is more delicate than that of a human being. They help Belinda in arming her for the conquest of beauty and love. They preside over the toilet , “save the powder from too rude a gale, steal from rainbows a brighter wash ,curl their waving hair ,assist their blushes.” They hang about Belinda’s ear rings . The chief of the sylphs, Ariel enumerates the duties and functions of these supernatural machinery.

The machinery of the sylphs plays an important role in the elevation of the trivial to the level of the great. They present the vanities and frivolities of Pope’s society in heroic terms. As symbol of Feminine vanity and Coquetry

Poetically, the sylphs symbolize the vanities and fashionable airs of women like Belinda. The sylphs stand for feminine honour , flirtation, courtship and also the rivalry between man and woman.

Conclusion:

The use of Supernatural machinery has served the purpose of the poet. Some of the passages are indeed gems of poetry like the description of the sylphs . It provides the mythopoetic apparatus to the poem. It symbolizes the vanity and frivolity of the women of that society. Totally it has added the poem infinite beauty, subtlety and more charm to the whole poem.