Examining the evolution of the words 'rake' and 'fop'
By Corinne Cunard
Oct. 6, 2010 3:35 p.m.
As an English student, it is hard to ignore the parallels between literary life and reality, which makes for some very interesting conclusions. After learning about George Etherege’s play “The Man of Mode,” the concept of fops and rakes cycled through my mind.
In addition to serving as a pretty catchphrase for English 10B learning materials, fops and rakes are indeed a part of everyday life, despite their 17th-century origins. A fop can be defined as a vain man who has almost a foolish attentiveness to his wardrobe and general appearance, whereas a rake is a generally attractive man with promiscuous habits.
Upon realizing that the titles of “fop” and “rake” could be synonymous with current-day terms such as metrosexual and douche bag, my epiphany was complete. Clearly I have been studying English to have moments like this where it all makes sense.
After asking friends and non-English students about the definition of a rake and a fop, I was met with several perplexed expressions. “I think a rake is a gardening tool that has prongs,” said second-year undeclared life sciences student Brittany Chetty. There was even less hope for the fop: “I have no idea whatsoever,” Chetty said. “Can I Google it? I have no idea.”
Now, while most present-day rakes are probably less charming their literary counterparts, society has still found a way to observe and define their habits and tricks. While the rakes of the world have maintained their identity, I would argue that the fops have outgrown their ridiculous literary associations and have simply evolved into straight men with a sense of style that care about their appearance.
With everyday characters like rakes and fops, my reality becomes a little more interesting. In future posts, I hope to shed some insight into the origin of well-known phrases or everyday words with the help of my literary sleuthing skills.
Illustration by Monica Davila
