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An Essay on Man Expatiate free o'er all this scene of man A mighty maze! but not without a plan (Epistle 1, lines 5 - 6)
Popes Epistles are constructed to strike the reader at first and make the reader to think about the meaning of his rhyming verse. By these lines the poet tries to express the thought that the mankind or the age of reason will be unable to discuss man in an open-minded way. There is a system that was created by God, and it is run by God.
He, who thro' vast immensity can pierce, See worlds on worlds compose one universe, Observe how system into system runs, What other planets circle other suns (Epistle 1, lines 23 - 26)
In these lines the author tries to convince the readers that man is able to determine the nature of the world he lives in, as the man is guided by reason.
This is the man, therefore, who is able to see worlds and observe" how system into system runs, and all things created by God, function.
May tell why Have'n has made us as we are: But of this frame, the bearings and the ties, The strong connexions, nice dependencies (Epistle 1, lines 28 - 30)
By dwelling on mankind and the place of God in the universe, Pope comes to conclusion that everything is interrelated, as there are "bearings", "ties", " connexions, and dependencies.
Gradations just, has thy pervading soul Look'd thro'; or can a part contains the whole? Is the great chain that draws all to agree, And drawn supports, upheld by God or thee? (Epistle 1, lines 31 - 34)
By asking the reader questions, whether a part can contain the whole, or is the " the great chain that draws all to agree upheld by God or by the man, Pope wants to engage the reader in reflections about his existence, and about the place of God in the universe.
Presumptuous man! the reason wouldst thou find, Why form'd so weak, so little, and so blind?
First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess Why form'd no weaker, blinder, and no less! (Epistle 1, lines 35 - 38)
Pope calls a man "presumptuous, and exclaims that the man is unable to know everything. Pope considers that the man, with all respect to him, still has his own place in the universe, and is suited to this place and rank in the creation.
Ask of thy mother earth why oaks are made Taller or stronger than the weeds they shade! (Epistle 1, lines 39 - 40)
Then Pope continues that the man can ask his mother earth, nature, and God to find answers to all questions the man cannot guess, as it cannot be expected that the man, as one part of the existence, understands all other parts of the existence.
That wisdom infinite must form the best (Epistle 1, line 44)
By this phrase Pope reflects his idea that although all creatures on the Earth are subordinate to the man, there is an infinite wisdom, God, as the omnipotent and existing entity
A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain (Epistle 1, line 54)
By this line Pope expresses the idea that no movement will be beneficial to the mankind in general without a unified effort
Lo! The poor Indian, whose un tutor'd mind See's God in clouds, or hears him in the wind (Epistle 1, lines 99 - 100)
The choice of words, such as poor Indian, un tutor'd mind doesnt express the negative attitude to the Indians, but rather shows that the indigenous nations in their simplicity, are much closer to nature, and to God. Pope, probably wanted to express the idea that indigenous people are more spiritual than modern civilization spoilt by the age of reason, social relations and culture.
His soul proud Science never taught to stray Far as the solar walk or milky way; Yet simple Nature to his hope has giv'n, Behind the cloud-topp'd hill, a humbler have'n; (Epistle 1, lines 101 - 104)
Pope shows that although the "proud Science" has never taught the soul of Indian to think about such complicated issues like structure of the universe, solar walk, or milky way, but, instead, indigenous people are much closer to God as they enjoy "a humbler have'n
Some safer world in depth of woods embrace'd, Some happier island in the wat " ry waste (Epistle 1, lines 105 - 106)
Instead of the knowledge and the world of reason, the Indians are given some safer world, and some happier island in the world called by Pope the wat " ry waste. By these words Pope again places an emphasis on vanity of vanities in the world of modern civilization and encourages people to be simpler and more sincere, thus being closer to God and nature.
Go, wiser thou! and in thy scale of sense Weigh thy opinion against Providence (Epistle 1, lines 113 - 114)
The author encourages the man to be wiser and not to believe blindly in God and Providence. Evidently, he doesn't call the man to deny God, but simply to use more reason in his actions.
Call imperfection what thou fanciest such; Say, here he gives too little, there too much (Epistle 1, lines 115 - 116)
These words are the confirmation to the previous lines, and, as we can see, the author tries to call for mans putting himself in the place of God, and even judge Gods actions, saying that here he gives too little, there too much
Snatch from his hand the balance and the rod Re-judge his justice, be the God of God! (Epistle 1, lines 121 - 122)
In these lines Pope seems to contradict to his previous claim that the universe is upheld by God, however, he makes it on purpose, as for the poet there evidently is no mistake in thinking that man is the most powerful and almighty creature
In Pride, in reas " ning Pride, our error lies (Epistle 1, line 123)
Immediately after the lines where the poet encourages people to be the God of God, he reminds them that the error is in Pride, as people are taking too much pride in their reasoning abilities.
The gen " ral order, since the whole began, Is kept in Nature, and is kept in Man (Epistle 1, lines 171 - 172)
By these lines Pope wants to remind people that the general order is not kept in the mankind alone, and, as everything is interrelated and dependent on each other, the general order is kept both in man and in nature
All in exact proportion to the state; Nothing to add, and nothing to abate; Each beast, each insect, happy in its own: Is Have'n unkind to man, and man alone? Shall he alone, whom rational we call, Be pleas'd with nothing if not bless'd with all? (Epistle 1, lines 183 - 188)
The poet again reminds that the man's complaints against Providence are unreasonable, as everything is in exact proportion to the state and there is nothing to add, and nothing to abate and that it is nature and it is God who is able to judge what is wrong and what is right.
The bliss of man (could pride that blessing find) Is not to act or think beyond mankind; (Epistle 1, lines 189 - 190)
At the same time, the poet reminds people that the man cannot act or think beyond mankind, and it is the Providence that is all good and wise.
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man (Epistle 2, lines 1 - 2)
As we can see, the second Epistle dwells on the same theme as the first one. The poet tells about the function of man, and that the mankind should study the man and to know itself, instead of prying into God
Alas!
what wonder! Man's superior part Uncheck'd may rise, and climb from art to art; But when his own great work is but begun, What Reason weaves, by Passion is undone. (Epistle 2, lines 39 - 42)
Pope expresses the idea that the mans superior part unchecked may rise from art to art, but what the man will find out is that the mankind is ruled by passion, and the reason is its counselor
Two principles in Human Nature reign, Self-love to urge and Reason to restrain; Nor this a good, nor that a bad we call; Each works its end, to move or govern all (Epistle 2, lines 53 - 56)
The author tells about two major principles in Human Nature that are the most important ones Self-love and Reason. While Self-love appears to be stronger, Pope claims that both of them are important and necessary, and, although Self-love to urge and Reason to restrain, each of these principles works its end
And oft so mix, the diff " rence is too nice Where ends the Virtue or begins the Vice (Epistle 2, lines 209 - 210)
These lines tell the reader that it is sometimes very difficult to differentiate between the Virtue and the Vice, as sometimes these conceptions are quite close to each other.
Fools! who from hence into the notion fall That Vice or Virtue there is none at all. If white and black blend, soften, and unite A thousand ways, is there no black or white? (Epistle 2, lines 211 - 214)
However, the author continues that those people, who consider that there is no vice or virtue at all, as it is too difficult to define, where there is a vice or a virtue, are fools, as if white and black blend, soften, and unite a thousand ways there is still black and white.
The same, as the author claims, is with the Vice and the Virtue.
Have'n forming each on other to depend, A master, or a servant, or a friend, Bids each on other for assistance call (Epistle 2, lines 249 - 251)
These lines are the logical support to the Pope's idea that all creatures in the Earth, and everything that exists depends on each other, and it tied together, made by the Heaven each on other to depend.
Here then we rest -- ''The Universal Cause Acts to one end, but acts by various laws. " In all the madness of superfluous Health, The trim of Pride, the impudence of Wealth, Let this great truth be present night and day: But most be present, if we preach or pray (Epistle 3, lines 1 - 6)
Again the poet reverts to the theme that all is natural in the nature, that Universe is one system of Society and the man is a part of nature.
Look round our world; behold the chain of love Combining all below and all above (Epistle 3, lines 7 - 8)
By these words the poet describes the universe as a symbiotic system, where everything is interrelated, including the nature, people, God, heaven, and all creatures in the Earth. He encourages to behold the chain of love, as he considers that only collective and unified efforts will be beneficial to the mankind.
See plastic nature working to this end (Epistle 3, line 9)
Pope uses the word "plastic" in a meaning somewhat different from the common understanding of this word. "Plastic" is used to embody the 'formative power accorded to nature by God', and should be interpreted as the synonym to plasticity
See him from Nature rising slow to Art! To copy Instinct then was Reason's part: (Epistle 3, lines 169 - 170)
By these words Pope wants to deliver a message that it is an instinct that prompts reason how to create art.
That Virtue only makes our bliss below (Epistle 4)
By these lines the author ends his An Essay On Man. He wants to place an emphasis on idea that "virtue" (or pride) and the constant search for what seems to be virtuous, limits the very importance of the man's happiness.
And all our knowledge, ourselves to know (Epistle 4)
Finally, Pope concludes that the man can find the knowledge about himself in any kind of knowledge, and that all knowledge is the knowledge of mankind. This line reflects Popes Epistemological philosophy of thinking.
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