For those of us who believe in a Higher Power, no matter what the religion, Alexander Pope provides a somewhat harsh "reality check." Obviously, it is normal to look at tragedies within our lives and ask, "Why?" Whether a family member is diagnosed with cancer, suddenly dies in a tragic automobile accident, or even having your home destroyed by a natural disaster, Pope demands a sense of humbleness instead of anger.
At the end of Pope's "An Essay on Man," he writes, "And Nature tremble to the throne of God./ All this dread ORDER breaks---for whom? for thee?/ Vile worm!--oh Madness! Pride! Impiety!" (96). Pope is suggesting that there is an order to everything (nature) which is all "unknown to thee" (97). This order is set by the Higher Power; so in Pope's eyes, this is quite pretentious for humans to insinuate a greater knowledge than the Higher Power. Part of this natural order includes everyone, not just humans, Pope points out: "Each beast, each insect, happy in its own:/ Is Heaven unkind to Man, and Man alone?/ Shall he alone, whom rational we call,/ Be pleased with nothing, if not blessed with all?" (94). Everything on earth plays a part in the natural order. Questioning is neither useful or fitting.
Pope soothes writing, "Who finds not Providence all good and wise,/ Alike in what it gives, and what is denies?" (95). Great care has been taken to create the course of life on earth, so do not fret. It is how it should be.
Pope, Alexander. "An Essay on Man." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 90-97. Print.
At the end of Pope's "An Essay on Man," he writes, "And Nature tremble to the throne of God./ All this dread ORDER breaks---for whom? for thee?/ Vile worm!--oh Madness! Pride! Impiety!" (96). Pope is suggesting that there is an order to everything (nature) which is all "unknown to thee" (97). This order is set by the Higher Power; so in Pope's eyes, this is quite pretentious for humans to insinuate a greater knowledge than the Higher Power. Part of this natural order includes everyone, not just humans, Pope points out: "Each beast, each insect, happy in its own:/ Is Heaven unkind to Man, and Man alone?/ Shall he alone, whom rational we call,/ Be pleased with nothing, if not blessed with all?" (94). Everything on earth plays a part in the natural order. Questioning is neither useful or fitting.
Pope soothes writing, "Who finds not Providence all good and wise,/ Alike in what it gives, and what is denies?" (95). Great care has been taken to create the course of life on earth, so do not fret. It is how it should be.
Pope, Alexander. "An Essay on Man." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 90-97. Print.
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