Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock raises inquiry as to whether or not the protagonist, Belinda, has free will. Some critics argue that Belinda does have liberty of choice because she is faced with a moral decision presented to her by the sylphs. Conversely, others contest that Belinda is influenced by the sylphs and therefore has limited or no say in her decisions.

No matter how exquisite the sylphan machinery, it must be recognized as demonic. In tempting Belinda to transcend the flesh and blood world by life long chasity, Ariel proffers her a satanic substitute for Christianity, complete with a doctrine of immortality, psalmody and cosmology. Ariel promises that if she is faithful to his doctrine of coquetry the sylphs will keep her "safe from the treacherous friend, the daring spark, In the glance by day, the whisper in the dark," thus the choice (I 73-74). Since Belinda is presented with a decision, one could ascertain that Belinda does have liberty of choice. This particular instance of free will can be looked upon as a moral decision.

Moreover, the metaphoric activity of the poem constituted a the prideful image of Belinda as part of an independent world and fem

ale society thus implicating her in a self-sufficient scheme. Belinda is imagined as the ruling sun, a deity who creates order on command, "Let spades be Trumps! she said And trumps they were" (III 46). As goddess of pride she receives offerings from the entire world because she is its supreme deity. To the world she governs, the cup and coffee are "China's Earth" and its "Smoking Tyde" (III 110); for her "all Arabia breathes from yonder box" (I 134); and the Hindu emblem of the world, the elephant mounted on the tortoise becomes her ivory and tortoise shell comb. Female society is an entire planetary system, and just as Belinda is her own goddess she is urged by Ariel to be sexually self sufficient. The souls of coquettes are supposed to become the guardian angels of coquettes in a self perpetuating scheme of female chastity and immortality. However, this doesn't mean that Belinda has to become sexually self sufficient. It means that since she is the paramount deity, she is urged to be, but is unable to be forced into sexual self sufficiency.

In Canto I of The Rape of the Lock the Ariel states, "Know furhter yet; whoever fair and chaste, Rejects mankind, is by some sylph embraced: For spirits freed from mortal laws, with ease Assume what sexes and what shapes they please. What guards the purity of melting maids, In courtly balls, and midnight masquerades, safe from the treacherous friend, the daring spark, In the glance

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 971
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)