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Cult of Beauty

Cult of Beauty. Rape of the Lock. Say, why are Beauties prais'd and honour'd most, The Wise Man's Passion, and the Vain Man's Toast? (Pope ln. 9-10). The Cult of Beauty. Cult: zealous obsession directed at a particular figure or object; fetishized ideology; irrational reverence

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Cult of Beauty

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  1. Cult of Beauty Rape of the Lock

  2. Say, why are Beauties prais'd and honour'd most, The Wise Man's Passion, and the Vain Man's Toast? (Pope ln. 9-10)

  3. The Cult of Beauty Cult: zealous obsession directed at a particular figure or object; fetishized ideology; irrational reverence Pope asks, what is the cult of beauty doing to our world?

  4. Thesis The cult of beauty is a social paradox because it simultaneously bestows and undermines the power of people

  5. Beauty Bestows Power “Arming” Scene rife with ritual: “The inferior priestess, at her altar’s side, / Trembling begins the sacred rites of Pride.” (ln. 127-128) “Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms.” (ln. 139) “Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet-doux.” (ln. 138)

  6. Beauty Bestows Power “Fair nymphs and well-dressed youths around her shone, / But every eye was fixed on her alone. / On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, / Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.” (Pope Canto 2, ln. 5-8) Cult:

  7. Modern Example

  8. “Methinks already I your tears survey, / Already hear the horrid things they say, / Already see you a degraded toast, / And all your honor in a whisper lost!” (Pope Canto 4, ln. 107-110)

  9. (Degraded Toast)

  10. Beauty Undermines Power Baron cutting lock undermines Belinda’s power: Oh, had I rather unadmired remained / In some lone isle, or distant northern land; / Where the gilt chariot never marks the way, / Where none learn ombre, none e’er taste bohea! / There kept my charms concealed from mortal eye, / Like roses that in deserts bloom and die. (Pope Canto 4, ln. 153-158)

  11. Beauty Undermines Power “Oh, hadst thou, cruel! Been content to seize / Hairs less in sight, or any hairs but these!” (Pope Canto 5, 175-176) Because beauty was what had defined her, she easily fell from her pedestal - her altar - into devastation.

  12. Beauty bestows and undermines at the same time • Not chronological (empower, then undermine) • In “Arming scene,” Belinda empowers herself and undermines herself simultaneously • Getting beautiful, but wasting time • Power doesn’t come from self, but from outside

  13. So What? • We can’t fix it. • Everyone knows the solution, but no one does it

  14. Happy Thanksgiving! • Have some toast!

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