Which line in this excerpt from "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope suggests that women in eighteenth-century England were expected to readily accept proposals from rich gentlemen without much opposition?

What dire offence from am'rous causes springs,

What mighty contests rise from trivial things,

I sing - This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due:

This, ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise,

If She inspire, and He approve my lays.

Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel

A well-bred Lord t' assault a gentle Belle?

O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd,

Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?

In tasks so bold, can little men engage,

And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty Rage?

Question

English

Trevin

1 August, 10:32

Which line in this excerpt from "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope suggests that women in eighteenth-century England were expected to readily accept proposals from rich gentlemen without much opposition?

What dire offence from am'rous causes springs,

What mighty contests rise from trivial things,

I sing - This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due:

This, ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise,

If She inspire, and He approve my lays.

Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel

A well-bred Lord t' assault a gentle Belle?

O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd,

Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?

In tasks so bold, can little men engage,

And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty Rage?

+4

Answers (1)

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Louis Patel · Answer 1

I'd say that the lines this excerpt from "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope that suggest that women in eighteenth-century England were expected to readily accept proposals from rich gentlemen without much opposition are the following ones:

O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd,

Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?

You can see that the author is confused why the girl rejected the proposal.