Alexander
Pope - An Essay on Man
Major Themes
The major themes of ‘An Essay on Man’ include
the belief in the existence of God, the Master Planner, the Supreme Architect,
the general behaviour of human beings, the way the universe functions and the
role of humans in it and the capacity of government which is primarily
responsible for promoting the happiness of the citizens. The ideas are ethical,
philosophical and even political. It is quite clear that Pope has introduced an
assortment of traditional views and the philosophical positions popular during
his time. So the work turns out to be mosaic of ideas from Aristotle, Horace,
Boileau and others who inspired Pope. The ideas are borrowed from both the
medieval and renaissance thinker which Pope has altered to suit his poetic
purpose.
Pope
expresses his views on nature. Nature is presented as-
i)
a “quasi-deity,” unchanging, infallible and
‘divinely bright’;
ii)
a “Life, force and beauty” and so a source of
power,
iii)
the source of art for it provides the rules
and remains a fountain of energy;
iv)
an yardstick for judgement “your judgement
frame/By her just standard”; and
v)
finally, nature is art and art nature.
The
central idea is the one that runs through the poem which is that this Universe
has an Order (in spite of its apparent chaos) and the natural laws are designed
by the Creator. The metaphysical doctrine of The Great Chain of Being brings to
focus the unity in the natural world with its own hierarchy beginning with the
insects, plants and ending with the angels. Pope wants us to believe that this
Perfect design is not understood by man who has his limitations because of his
own pride and intellectual deficiencies. Only when man becomes humble realizing
his own insignificance in this great canvass of Creation that man can lead a
virtuous and happy life.
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