The Rape of the Lock Characters

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The Rape of the Lock
Characters
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Belinda -
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Belinda is based on the
historical Arabella Fermor, a member of
Pope’s circle of prominent Roman
Catholics. Robert, Lord Petre (the Baron in
the poem) had precipitated a rift between
their two families by snipping off a lock of
her hair.
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The Baron -
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This is the pseudonym for
the historical Robert, Lord Petre, the
young gentleman in Pope’s social circle
who offended Arabella Fermor and her
family by cutting off a lock of her hair. In
the poem’s version of events, Arabella is
known as Belinda.
~~~~~
Caryl -
~~~~~
The historical basis for the Caryl
character is John Caryll, a friend of Pope
and of the two families that had become
estranged over the incident the poem
relates. It was Caryll who suggested that
Pope encourage a reconciliation by
writing a humorous poem.
~~~~``
Goddess -
~~~~~
The muse who, according to
classical convention, inspires poets to
write their verses
~~~~~~
Shock -
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Belinda’s lapdog
~~~~~~~~~
Ariel -
~~~~~
Belinda’s guardian sylph, who
oversees an army of invisible protective
deities
~~~~~
Umbriel -
~~~~~
The chief gnome, who travels to
the Cave of Spleen and returns with
bundles of sighs and tears to aggravate
Belinda’s vexation
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Brillante -
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The sylph who is assigned to
guard Belinda’s earrings.
~~~~~~~
Momentilla -
~~~~~
The sylph who is assigned to
guard Belinda’s watch
~~~~~~
Crispissa -
~~~~~
The sylph who is assigned to
guard Belinda’s “fav’rite Lock”
~~~~~
Clarissa -
~~~~~
A woman in attendance at the
Hampton Court party. She lends the Baron
the pair of scissors with which he cuts
Belinda’s hair, and later delivers a
moralizing lecture.
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Thalestris -
~~~~
Belinda’s friend, named for
the Queen of the Amazons and
representing the historical Gertrude
Morley, a friend of Pope’s and the wife of
Sir George Browne (rendered as her
“beau,” Sir Plume, in the poem). She eggs
Belinda on in her anger and demands that
the lock be returned.
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Sir Plume -
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Thalestris’s “beau,” who
makes an ineffectual challenge to the
Baron. He represents the historical Sir
George Browne, a member of Pope’s
social circle.