Respond in at least 2 paragraphs (5 sentences or more each)
4 Quotations from the text to support your response.
Please use conventions such as punctuation and capitalization
Clearly state the main idea of your answer and back it up with textual evidence.
In The R of the Lock, Alexander Pope satirized the idleness, egocentrism, and self-indulgence of the English aristocracy. Do you think that today there is a social class or group of people that displays similar characteristics and could deserve Pope’s mockery? Write a satirical essay describing an attitude of self-indulgence or self-importance displayed by a group of people today. Use literary devices such as hyperbole or exaggeration to point out ridiculous elements in the subject you chose.
In "The of the Lock," Alexander Pope brilliantly satirizes the idle, self-absorbed, and indulgent behavior of the English aristocracy. Through his use of exaggerated language and hyperbole, Pope criticizes the upper class for their indifference towards the world around them and their obsession with their own trivial concerns. Although this poem was written in the 18th century, there are still social classes or groups of people today who display similar characteristics deserving of mockery.
One such group could be the "Instagram influencers" of today. These individuals often live extravagant lifestyles, constantly flaunting their material possessions and promoting consumerism. They are obsessed with their appearance, spending hours perfecting their selfies and editing their photos to create an unattainable standard of beauty. Just as Pope writes about the "toilet," where Belinda spends her time "admir[ing] the completeness of her Dress," these influencers spend countless hours primping and preening themselves for the perfect shot.
Pope also criticizes the English aristocracy for their lack of concern for the world outside of their social circles. In one passage, he writes, "Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms; / The fair each moment rises in her charms, / Repairs her smiles, awakens ev'ry grace, / And calls forth all the wonders of her face." This attitude of self-absorption and disregard for the world is reflected in today's society by the prevalence of social media activism. Many individuals post about important social issues as a way to signal their virtue, without taking any real action to effect change. This performative activism is reminiscent of the English aristocracy's empty gestures and lack of genuine concern for the greater good.
Overall, Pope's satire in "The of the Lock" still resonates today, as there are still social classes or groups of people who exhibit similar traits of idleness, self-importance, and self-indulgence. Whether it be the Instagram influencers who obsess over their appearance or the performative activists who use social media as a platform for empty gestures and virtue signaling, there are modern examples of individuals who deserve to be mocked for their lack of substance and genuine concern for the world around them.