Equality in Paradise Lost and Rape of the Lock
Equality in the Rape of the Lock and Paradise Lost
There are a lot of things these two poems can offer. Both the Rape of the lock and paradise lost are epics. They tell tales of characters that once lived and show the human nature. Some would say that the poems don’t offer a sense of equality amongst the characters. Let it be because of sex, intelligence, and society they just don’t seem to have the same value.
Sex being a factor because of how the hierarchy was placed in both stories. The men rule the worlds we are presented in. The higher beings of God, angels, and Satan are always represented as males. And the rulers of the human world are also shown to be male, in this case the Baron and Adam fitting in this category. It just seems that women are just brought to these tales to serve as plot points and to be just there. Intelligence is a given trait that not everyone seems to acquire.
The social aspect of the stories in a way feels exclusionary. God can’t be taken out of his throne and thus we have no other option than follow him or pay. Adam and Eve are certainly not treating each other as equals since Adam expects to be submissive while he does as he pleases.
Poe is no less exclusionary in Rape of the lock. The game of Ombre is a crucial plot point on the story that only royalty of that time plays. Those people living bellow social stature would not be able to comprehend the game, and much less play it. Thus not allowing equality to flourish in that society, or among the new readers unable to find out about the game.
But doesn’t everyone end up doing what they want regardless of things like sex, intelligence, or social expectations? Looking it at this way isn’t all of this a way of equality? Isn’t the fact that free will was given to all of this characters make them equals?
Gender sure didn’t matter playing Ombre. Bellinda and Clarissa are able to play and consider as competent as any male. Not only they are competent but Bellinda wins the
There are a lot of things these two poems can offer. Both the Rape of the lock and paradise lost are epics. They tell tales of characters that once lived and show the human nature. Some would say that the poems don’t offer a sense of equality amongst the characters. Let it be because of sex, intelligence, and society they just don’t seem to have the same value.
Sex being a factor because of how the hierarchy was placed in both stories. The men rule the worlds we are presented in. The higher beings of God, angels, and Satan are always represented as males. And the rulers of the human world are also shown to be male, in this case the Baron and Adam fitting in this category. It just seems that women are just brought to these tales to serve as plot points and to be just there. Intelligence is a given trait that not everyone seems to acquire.
The social aspect of the stories in a way feels exclusionary. God can’t be taken out of his throne and thus we have no other option than follow him or pay. Adam and Eve are certainly not treating each other as equals since Adam expects to be submissive while he does as he pleases.
Poe is no less exclusionary in Rape of the lock. The game of Ombre is a crucial plot point on the story that only royalty of that time plays. Those people living bellow social stature would not be able to comprehend the game, and much less play it. Thus not allowing equality to flourish in that society, or among the new readers unable to find out about the game.
But doesn’t everyone end up doing what they want regardless of things like sex, intelligence, or social expectations? Looking it at this way isn’t all of this a way of equality? Isn’t the fact that free will was given to all of this characters make them equals?
Gender sure didn’t matter playing Ombre. Bellinda and Clarissa are able to play and consider as competent as any male. Not only they are competent but Bellinda wins the