Comparison between «The Rape of the Lock» and today’s advertisements

Mock-heroic poem written by A. Pope;Organization: five Cantos;Aim: criticism of lifestyle of aristocracy, that

gives importance to useless things (such as cosmetics);

Plot: quarrel between two aristocratic families because Lord Petre cut off a lock of Arabella’s hair without her permission.

Gap between the things described and the language used;

Semantic fields: military, economic to speak about Belinda’s wakening the text seems ridiculous;

Aristocracy is criticized through their attention to useless things and Belinda’s beauty, which is artificial, not natural.

Advertisement - Rimmel london.mp4

SIMILARITIESCosmetics are considered something which allows you to be perfect: - text: cosmetics are precious treasures (they come from India, Arabia..) and Belinda is considered a nymph, a Goddess (line 3-9-12-13-14) you becomes fast divine - photo: 16 hours of the silkiest most flawless perfection the product gives you a different physical appearance from reality. - video: the product allows you to look younger Exaggerations and hyperboles in order to reach the aim.Beauty is artificial, not natural materialistic point of view.

DIFFERENCESThe aim of the language used and hyperboles are different: - text: they are used to ridicule aristocracy and to criticize their lifestyle; - photo and video: they are used in order to convince people to buy the products. The reason is that nowadays beauty is very important and everybody wants to appear more wonderful and perfect. Therefore cosmetics are considered a way to reach physical perfection.