What is the role of supernatural machinery in The Rape Of The Lock?

The role of supernatural machinery in this mock epic is
key. The chief sprite, Ariel, is presented as the commander of the sylphs and other
faeries who are trying to work hard to protect Belinda and to prevent fate taking its
course. Ariel appears in Canto I in a dream to Belinda, warning her to beware of pride
and men, but then again, after Belinda has appeared in society Ariel appears with his
army of faeries and tells them to be wary because it is clear something terrible will
happen on that day:

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This day, black omens threat the brightest fair

That e'er deserved a watchful spirit's care:
Some dire disaster,
or by force, or slight;
But what, or where, the Fates have wrapp'd in
night.

The job of these
sylphs and supernatural beings is therefore to do everything they can to prevent
calamity by protecting Belinda, and particularly her lock of hair which ends up being
cut. Of course, the supernatural machinery in this text is used by Pope to establish his
mock epic. The fact that supernatural armies of faeries have to work so hard to prevent
such a "calamity" shows that he is poking fun at Belinda and the way that the "rape of
the lock" was made into an event of such importance, whereas in reality it was nothing
at all. The supernatural machinery is thus used by Pope to reinforce his central
message.