Essay on Man: Alexander Pope

In Alexander Pope's work, Essay on Man, he makes it very clear that humans fit into the creation of God's design as beings that are imperfect, learning the way, striving for perfection, and merciful to our God. In verse five of the poem, Pope states:

Better for us, perhaps, it might appear,

Were there all harmony, all virtue here;

That never air or ocean felt the wind,

That never passion discomposed the mind:

But all subsists by elemental strife;

And passions are the elements of life.

The gen'ral order, since the whole began,

Is kept in Nature, and is kept in Man.

This distinct line shares the purpose of man in the universe and insinuates that man has great order. (Norton) Pope makes it very clear throughout the poem that his God is all powerful and the sole purpose of why the universe is created -- not to mention man, and everything in nature. This helps clarify God's design of the universe and all that shapes the Earth through description of Essay on Man. The excerpt from part seven of the poem also helps clarify that God's design was purposeful and organized. (Norton).

See thro' this air, this ocean, and this earth

All matter quick, and bursting into birth:

Above, how high progressive life may go!

Around, how wide! how deep extend below!

Vast chain of being! which from God began;

Natures ethereal, human, angel, man,

Beast, bird, fish, insect, who no eye can see,

No glass can reach; from infinite to thee;

From thee to nothing

All are but parts of one stupendous Whole,

Whose body Nature is, and God the soul;

In the argument portion of Pope's work he mentions how man is constantly ridiculed as

imperfect, or testing the limits of God's design as we struggle to search for happiness, being suited to our place and rank in creation. (Norton). I believe this goes back to the analyzing of the situation with Adam and Eve in Genesis of the Bible. Adam was suited to his place and rank in creation once he had a suitable helper. Once sin entered into the world, he had to make do with his place and rank in creation based on the consequences God deemed necessary for their impurity.

Pope's prose and his ability to convey his message about the design of the universe and where man fits is extremely spiritual and formulated specifically on his beliefs of creation and God's plan for the world and humanity. As a Christian I can look at Pope's work with dignity, respect, and awe -- knowing that the ideas formulated match my own.

In the very first line of the poem, Pope writes:

Say first, of God above or Man below

What can we reason but from what we know? (Norton).

It is refreshing to read these lines and look back on the positive elements of God's design when it comes to people; and the good that can be spread through others when people realize God's purpose for them as intentional and loving.

Works Cited

David, Alfred. The Norton Anthology, English Literature (Volume A.). New York: WW Norton and Company. 2006.