The-Rape-of-the-Lock-夺发记-赏析

TheRapeoftheLock夺发记ByAlexanderPope(1688-1744)1.Introduction:TheMock-EpicAtthebeginningofTheRapeoftheLock,Popeidentifiestheworkasa“heroi-comicalpoem.”Today,thepoem–andotherslikeit–isreferredtoasamock-epicandsometimesasamock-heroic.Suchaworkparodies仿作theserious,elevatedstyleoftheclassicalepicpoem–suchasTheIliadorTheOdyssey,byHomer–topokefunathumanfollies.Thus,amock-epicisatypeofsatire;ittreatspettyhumansorinsignificantoccurrencesasiftheywereextraordinaryorheroic,likethegreatheroesandeventsofHomer'stwogreatepics.InwritingTheRapeoftheLockPopeimitatedthecharacteristicsofHomer'sepics,aswellaslaterepicssuchasTheAeneid(Vergil),TheDivineComedy(Dante),andParadiseLost(Milton).Manyofthesecharacteristicsarelistedbelow,underEpicConventions.2.SettingTheactiontakesplaceinLondonanditsenvironsintheearly1700'sonasingleday.Thestorybeginsatnoon(CantoI)attheLondonresidenceofBelindaasshecarefullypreparesherselfforagala盛会socialgathering.Thescenethenshifts(CantoII)toaboatcarryingBelindauptheThames.ToonlookerssheisasmagnificentasQueenCleopatrawaswhenshetraveledinherbarge.Therestofthestory(CantosIII-V)takesplacewhereBelindadebarks下船–HamptonCourtPalace,aformerresidenceofKingHenryVIIIontheoutskirtsofLondon–exceptforabriefsceneinCantoIVthattakesplaceinthecaveoftheQueenofSpleen.3.CharactersBelinda:Beautifulyoungladywithwondroushair,twolocksofwhichhanggracefullyincurls.TheBaron:YoungadmirerofBelindawhoplotstocutoffoneofherlocks.Ariel:Belinda'sguardiansylph(supernaturalcreature).Clarissa:YoungladywhogivestheBaronscissors.Umbriel:SpritewhoentersthecaveoftheQueenofSpleentoseekhelpforBelinda.QueenofSpleen:UnderworldgoddesswhogivesUmbrielgiftsforBelinda.Thalestris:FriendofBelinda.ThalestrisurgesSirPlumetodefendBelinda'shonor.SirPlume:BeauofThalestris.HescoldstheBaron.Sylphs,Fairies,Genies,Demons,PhantomsandOtherSupernaturalCreatures4.Source:AReal-LifeIncidentPopebasedTheRapeoftheLockonanactualincidentinwhichaBritishnobleman,LordPetre,cutoffalockofhairdanglingtantalizingly令人着急地fromtheheadofthebeautifulArabellaFermor.Petre’sdaringtheftofthelocksetoffabattleroyalbetweenthePetreandFermorfamilies.JohnCaryll–afriendofPopeandofthewarringfamilies–persuadedthegreatwritertopenaliteraryworksatirizingtheabsurdity荒谬andsillinessofthedispute.Theresultwasoneofthegreatestsatiricalpoemsinallofliterature.Inwritingthepoem,Popealsodrewuponancientclassicalsources–notablyHomer’sgreatepics,TheIliadandTheOdyssey–asmodelstoimitateinstyleandtone.HealsoconsultedthetextsofmedievalandRenaissanceepics.5.PlotSummaryPopeopenswithastatementannouncingthetopicofhispoem:Agentleman–alord,infact–hascommittedaterribleoutrageagainstagentlewoman,causinghertorejecthim.Whatwasthisoffense?Whydiditincite刺激suchangerinthelady?ThewomaninquestionisnamedBelinda.SheissleepinglateonedayinherLondonhomewhenasylph–adainty精巧的spiritthatinhabitstheair–warnsherthat“Isaw,alas!somedreadEventimpend.”Thesylph,namedAriel,doesnotknowwhatthiseventisorwhereorhowitwillmanifestitself.ButhedoestellBelindatobeonguardagainstthemachinationsofmen.Belindarisesandpreparesherselfforasocialgathering,sittingbeforeamirrorandprettyingherselfwith“puffsandpowders”andscentingherselfwith“allArabia.”Afterward,shetravelsuptheThamesRivertothesiteofthesocialfestivities,HamptonCourt,thegreatpalaceonthenorthbankoftheriverthatinearliertimeswashometoKingHenryVIII.Asshesitsintheboat,“FairNymphs,andwell-drestYouthsaroundhershone,/Butev'ryEyewasfix'donheralone.”Inotherwords,shewasbeautifulbeyondmeasure.Shesmiledateveryoneequally,andhereyes–brightsuns–radiatedgoodwill.Especiallyendearingtoanyonewholookeduponherwereherwondroustresses:一束头发ThisNymph,totheDestructionofMankind,Nourish'dtwoLockswhichgracefulhungbehindInequalCurls,andwellconspir'dtodeckWithshiningRingletsthesmoothIv'ryNeck.AmongBelinda’sadmirersisayoungbaronatHamptonCourtawaitingherarrival.Hehasresolvedtosnipoffalockofherhairasthetrophyoftrophies.Beforedawn,beforeeventhesungodPhoebusApolloarose,theBaronhadbeenplanningthetheftofalockofBelinda'shair.Towinthefavorofthegods,hehadlightedanaltarfireand,lyingfacedownbeforeit,prayedforsuccess.AfterBelindaarrivesatHamptonCourtwithhercompanyoffriends,thepartygoersplayOmbre,apopularcardgameinwhichonly40ofthe52cardsaredealt--theeights,nines,andtensareheldback.ItappearsthattheBaronwillwinthegameafterhisknaveofdiamondscapturesherqueenofhearts.However,Belindayethashope,evenaftertheBaronplaysanaceofhearts:TheKingunseenLurk'dinherHand,andmourn'dhiscaptiveQueen.HespringstoVengeancewithaneagerPace,AndfallslikeThunderontheprostrateAceTheNymphexultingfillswithShoutstheSky;TheWalls,theWoods,andlongCanalsreply.Belindawins!Coffeeisserved,thevaporsofwhichgototheBaron’sbrainandemboldenhimtocarryouthisassaultonBelinda’shair.Clarissa,aladywhofanciestheBaron,withdrawsscissorsfromacaseandarmshimwiththeweapon.WhenheclosesinbehindBelinda,shebendsoverhercoffee,exposingamagnificentlock.Butathousandspritescometoheraid,usingtheirwingstoblowhairoverthelock.Theyalsotugatoneofherdiamondearringstoalerthertothedanger.Threetimestheywarnherandthreetimesshelooksaround.Buta