The Rape of the Lock (poem)

"The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope is a satirical poem that humorously addresses a petty social conflict among 18th-century aristocrats. It exaggerates a minor incident where a young woman’s lock of hair was cut without permission, transforming it into a grand heroic tale with gods and supernatural elements. Through wit and irony, the poem comments on vanity, rivalry, and the trivial pursuits of the upper class, highlighting how small disputes can be blown out of proportion and ridiculing their obsession with appearance and status.