Write a critical appreciation of " Essay On Man " by Pope.
An Essay On Man is a nice example of Pope's art. This poem very beautiful describes the ways of God to Man as in Paradise Lost it has been quoted by Milton. This poem presents the views of the Universe. Pope's philosophy is that God is all-powerful. He is all the great and He is the observer of everything. In spite of all these things, God, sometimes, feels in trouble due to his own creation, the human being, who is always prey to sin, evil and frustration.
Pope says that Man doesn't realise the ways of God. Man may, at last, attain the bliss of God. The parth of this bliss may be full of pain and misery but as soon a man attains perfection, every such kind of painful feeling disappears. The present poem got immediate success after publication and influenced the Catholics and Protestants. This poem has, so well, been written that it captures the attention of everyone. It is a philosophical poem.
" Know then thyself, presume not God to scan
The proper study of mankind is man "
Further, says Pope, that man, who thinks of himself to be the most intelligent creature, is nothing before God. He, the God, is all-powerful, but man, due to his foolish nature, begins to find fault in him, in reality, man is nothing but only a connecting link between the two masses, nature and God. Man doesn't realize this weakness. He is very
suspicious creature and always finds fault in others. Again Pope says that man does do not have enough courage to subdue his passions. He cannot control them and looks at everything with suspicion.
" With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side
With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride. "
This poem has the philosophy of the universe. God is an artist and uses his skill to give human beings a tint of this vast universe. Pope says that man, due to his nature, is never sure. He is confused what to do and what not to do. He can't decide that he is only a beast or the Master of this Universe. He hangs in the intermediate position.
He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest ;
In doubt to deem himself a God, or Beast. "
Next, Pope describes the human being's nature and says that his passions are out of his control. He is such a willing victim of them. Human beings can't present any solid logic behind it. He is born to die. It means that man is mortal and that he should not try to find an error in God, who is his father and is never wrong. Man has reason and logic but always commits wrong and this process never stops, if he thinks a little or a lot.
Alike in ignorance, his reason such.
Whether he thinks too little or too much "
The human mind is always in a state of total confusion. Always there is a struggle between his thoughts and passions. These two are the poles apart, they never agree. The man remains in his own self under all the conditions, if he is cheated by someone or not. Here Pope presents before us the actual picture a human
being, and says that, of course, the man does not know his real position and personality. He has been created out of his mistakes and errors, so, he does wrong. Also, he is a mixture of progress and degrees so he tastes the rise and the fall of life. He is the master of the universe because he has infinite power and knowledge in himself but he falls victim to everything due to his nature. He can't escape them. Human passions are so strong that they overcome human beings. Pope says, here, the universal line -
" Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all "
Man has lost all his qualities. He is the only judge of truth still he does many wrongs. He has no trust over anybody. Therefore, he makes numberless errors. Due to this nature, man is not sure of his position in the world. Sometimes he remains a riddle, difficult to be solved. Sometimes he looks like a jest because of his nature. Man, sometimes proves to be an object of glory due to his immense knowledge in him.
" The glory: jest, and riddle of the world. "
The object of Pope behind writing this poem is to justify the ways of God to man. " As it was the object of Milton also when he wrote the greatest epic Paradise Lost. Pope wants to prove that God is never wrong as whatever he does by his grace and mercy may be wrong on one side but it will be fully right on the other. The subject matter of the pope is ethical, grand and philosophical.
The Pope's subject matter is like the subject matter of a preacher and he advocates his subject matter so emphatically that the reader can't remain dissatisfied and un sympathised with him. This poem is a nice example of a classical poem. It is not full of meditative mood. It presents 18th-century Roman Catholicism.
In this poem, man is depicted as working out his enlightenment by passing a life full of virtue, merit, goodness and glory. According to the social and religious order, Pope does not follow the old and often beaten tracks. His style is his own style. He uses simple language to avoid the excess of romantic feelings and embellishments. There is no any turn in his diction. Pope uses heroic couplet to attain his object.
Pope has very well balanced the concrete as well as the universal object to suit his purpose. He loves the present object of nature and human beings in connection with the universe and its order. The central object of Pope behind this poem is self-love or narcissism into social love. This poem rhymes in the form of couplets viz. aa, bb, etc. This poem is a nice example of Pope's art. In very little space; Pope has given vent to his ideas and arguments. Know then thyself presume not God to scan The proper study of Mankind is Man.
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