How we cite our quotes: (Canto.Line)
Quote #1
Know farther yet; Whoever fair and chaste
Rejects Mankind, is by some Sylph embrac'd: (I.67–70)
Here's Ariel the Sylph, telling Belinda in a dream vision that she only merits that entourage of flimsy fairies if she never falls in love or accepts a boyfriend. Hmmm. So to be worthy of the Sylphs, you have to reject men? Where's the glory in all of that?
Quote #2
The Fair each moment rises in her Charms,
Repairs her Smiles, awakens ev'ry Grace,
And calls forth all the Wonders of her Face;
Sees by Degrees a purer Blush arise,
And keener Lightnings quicken in her Eyes. (I.140–144)
These lines describe how Belinda's sees her own face changing for the better as she puts on her makeup. Don't pretend you haven't checked yourself out some mornings, after you get ready for school, and thought yo, I look pretty good. But Belinda takes this to the nth degree. Amazing. We knew Belinda worshiped her own image in the mirror—but here she also seems to be falling in love with it, even to the point of being seduced by her own self. Total narcissism.
Quote #3
But chiefly Love — to Love an Altar built,
Of twelve vast French Romances, neatly gilt.
There lay three Garters, half a Pair of Gloves;
And all the Trophies of his former Loves. (II.37–40)
Here we are, kneeling with the Baron at that altar to love he builds in Canto II. Notice what symbolizes "love" for the man: romance novels, garters, gloves, etc. In other words,
romance equals stuff. Things. The Baron is a total fetishist.