An Essay on Man

Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man questions how evil can exist in the world, when God is good. In the first epistle, Pope asks his friend to help him justify God’s actions to Man: “Laugh were we must, be candid where we can; / But vindicate the ways of God to man” (Pope lns. 15-16). Although he attempts to explain God’s actions, Pope concludes man’s ignorance will not allow him to see the truth.

Unfortunately, according to Pope, man cannot see the big picture because of his limited view: “Perhaps acts second to some sphere unknown, / Touches some wheel, or verges to some goal; / ‘Tis but a part we see, and not a whole” (Pope 58-60). Man is ignorant to God’s plan because he is incapable of understanding a plan, in which he plays such a small part. He continues with this idea, “All are but parts of one stupendous whole, / whose body Nature is, and God the soul” (Pope 267-268). In other words, there is more at work than what man is able to see. Yet, God is in charge, and, “Whatever is, is right” (Pope 294). Instead of man trying to analyze God’s actions, man should trust that He knows best.

Although I agree with Pope on a couple of issues he suggests, I am not sure if I am in total agreement with him. I agree that man is often self-absorbed and unable to see outside himself. People usually do not view the big picture; instead, they look only at the small part that will affect them. Also, as Pope conveys, man overanalyzes. I think it is a person’s nature to analyze. We are taught to question everything and not to trust anyone, even if that means questioning God’s plan and doubting His actions.

Likewise, I understand that when things go astray, people need to figure out why. If they cannot come to a conclusion, they need to find a scapegoat: “Yet cry, If Man’s unhappy, God’s unjust” (Pope 118). After all of this, however, I think people are not as arrogant and ignorant as Pope claims them to be. Yes, people may not understand all the ways of the world or God’s entire plan, but overall, I think people are more competent, modest, and insightful than Pope suggests in his essay.  People realize there is evil in the world, but, hopefully, they relish the good.

Works Cited

Pope, Alexander. An Essay on Man: Epistle 1. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner et al. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. 90-97. Print.