Paper No_102 Neo-Classical Period.pdfmkb
- 1. Paper No:102 Neo-Classical Period Date : 23/11/2024 Day: Sunday
- 2. Personal Information Name : Manasi Joshi Paper code: 202 Neo-Classical Age Roll No: 16 Batch: M.A (Sem-1) Email: [email protected]
- 3. Presentation’s Topic Clarissa’s Role in ‘The Rape of the Lock’ Character of Clarissa
- 4. Introduction: ‘Why’ Pope has written ‘The Rape of the Lock’? Alexander Pope wrote The Rape of the Lock as a satirical response to a real-life incident that caused a rift between two prominent families. The poem was originally written in 1712 at the request of Pope's friend John Caryll, who wanted to diffuse tensions between the families of Arabella Fermor and Lord Petre. The poem’s opening line includes the following line: Slight is the subject, but not so the praise, If she inspire, and he approve my lay
- 5. Clarissa’s uniqueness: ● Clarissa’s character is wise and thoughtful. ● She knows that beauty fades with time and that being flirtatious doesn’t lead to lasting happiness. ● Her calm and mature behaviour makes her seem like an adult among children. ● Clarissa was included in later versions of the poem to emphasize its moral lesson. Her speech is a parody of a heroic speech in Homer, showing that even in a light, playful poem, there is a deeper meaning about life and values.
- 6. The term- “Grave” ❖ Pope specifically focusing on the term “Grave”. ❖ Grave is usually has a negative meaning in Pope’s poetry. ❖ In other works of Pope uses ‘grave’ to describe characters who are foolish or proud.
- 7. Different types of female behaviour: In this passage, the rivalry between Belinda and Clarissa is explored, with both women representing different types of female behavior. Belinda is a coquette, who uses her beauty and charm to gain attention and power, while Clarissa is a prude, who values respectability and moral superiority. Although they seem very different, they are both trying to gain social power in their own ways.
- 8. Critics: 1. Cunningham suggests that Clarissa delivers the poem’s moral message but also reflects the limitations of the society she critiques. 2. Rousseau emphasizes Clarissa’s elusiveness. He points out that: Pope doesn’t clearly define Clarissa’s character, leaving her motives and Pope’s stance on her uncertain.
- 9. Clarissa’s speech: ❖ Clarissa gives an important speech that shifts the focus from outer beauty to inner qualities. She questions why society values physical appearance so highly and argues that things like kindness, morality, and good judgment are far more important. ❖ Her message is that beauty is temporary, but good character and sense last longer and are more meaningful. This speech challenges the superficial standards of her time and reminds everyone to prioritize what truly matters. ❖ Looks might prove attractive to the eyes, but virtue is most attractive to the soul
- 10. Conclusion: Clarissa as an Ironic Voice of Reason: ➔ Clarissa is portrayed as a rational, virtuous figure offering sound advice, but her wisdom is largely ignored in the context of the poem’s focus on vanity and frivolity. ➔ Her role is ironic because, in a society consumed by superficial concerns, her insights are out of place and disregarded.
- 11. Reference: TRIMBLE, JOHN. “Clarissa’s Role in The Rape of the Lock.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language, vol. 15, no. 4, 1974, pp. 673–91. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40754289. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.