Criticism on Alexander Pope Essay on Man

Alexander pope, the greatest poet of all time wrote “Essay on Man” in 1734. Alexander pope essay on criticism is the second most prominent work of him. Alexander pope essay on man is based on four epistles,

• “Essay on man” highlights human existence and it’s role in the universe. First one signifies the chastity of this universe despite the existences of evils in this world.
• Second epistle discusses the psychological equilibrium between self-concern and emotions under the counseling of reasons, promotes standards of virtuous living.
• Third epistle, defines a role of individual in the society.
• Fourth one explains the struggle between the love of others and self-love.

Alexander pope essay on man, when on one hand highly acclaimed by the people like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire and Immanuel Kant about it’s literary aesthetics and philosophical insights, while on the other hand, it was also highly criticized by metaphysicians and clergymen who professed challenges in the poem’s main theme to their respective authority. These people criticized that the values presented in the Alexander pope essay on man were more poetic rather than philosophical. It is also said that the “Essay on man” is often taken as historical piece if art totally disconnected from the contemporary ideas and literature.

It has been also questioned by the religious authorities because he had many times questioned human’s ability to reason and to question the church. “Together let us beat this ample field, / Try to open, what the covert yield!”. In this way, he asked people not to just digest everything what they have been told, rather they should reason and question.