Rape of the Lock

Explain The Free Will in “The Rape of The Lock” 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. …

…reader with what is presented as lack of free will. The result is an enigma in which one must distinguish whether or not free will exists, or is merely a mind game played by the ingenious Pope to stimulate the mind of his reader. In either case, The Rape of the Lock stands for a message far more important, “What dire offense from amorous causes springs, What mighty contest rise from trivial things” (I 1-2).