To fifty chosen sylphs, ....... with ribs of whale; | The Rape of the Lock By Alexander Pope | Eureka Study Aids

To fifty chosen sylphs, of special note,
We trust th' important charge, the petticoat;
Oft have we known the seven-fold fence to fail,
Though stiff with hoops, and armed with ribs of whale;

To fifty chosen sylphs, ......... with ribs of whale;

Reference

(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock

(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope

Context

(i) Occurrence: Canto II

(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.

Explanation

     In these lines the poet describes how does Ariel assign sylphs to protect the petticoat of Belinda. Ariel, the head of sylphs, assigns an army of fifty selected sylphs to keep an eye on Belinda's skirt. Ariel thinks it a very important duty to protect Belinda's dress. There are two main reasons behind it. Firstly, women's skirts were huge in those days; Belinda's petticoat is seven-layered. Secondly, someone getting up Belinda's skirt, figuratively and literally, would probably be one of the worst things that could happen to her reputation. Reputation and honour, mainly when it came to sex, were really important to young society women in the 18th century. Although women's corsets and petticoats were pretty formidable in those days -- Belinda's petticoat was made with hoops and whale bone - the implication here is that all of that construction might not be enough to keep out a persistent suitor. In short, in these lines the poet critiques society's contradictory expectations with regard to female sexuality. 

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar