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"Pope presents the absurdities of the fashionable world with

 

            Pope's ability to create a humorous indictment of the vanities and the idleness of the eighteenth century high society comes from his attachment yet detachment from this "world". As a man who was;-politically: isolated by his Catholicism, socially: validated by an upper class family and personally: marginalized by physical deformity-he observed all dimensions of the society; rejection, acceptance and ridicule. On this elevated plane of superiority he took advantage of his remoteness and made poetry the "business of his life". Through publication of Pope's early poems gained him a place within prominent literary circles with this came a substantial fame. With his privileged family background and recognition for his poetical achievements within London Pope could not-and does not-fully condemn the society of which he was involved. He, as Mack states, treats it with "affection". Pope completely recognises the superficial nature; yet, this is the asset which granted him his status. Pope fondness is apparent through his satirical methods-.
             "To last awhile the pleasures of a court;.
             in various talk the" instructive hours they past,.
             who gave the ball, or paid the visit last"-.
             this adds to the comical affect as we are aware that Pope is not only mocking society but himself. Mack's point is highlighted through this passage where Pope interweaves trivial gossip into the system of justice, as if, idle "chitchat" si of equal seriousness.
             Nevertheless, Pope's eventual acceptance that his physical affliction placed him permanently outside the social world. This allowed him to view the aesthetic priority of the eighteenth century high society. With this perspective he sincerity inject the lack of "ethical judgement"; "The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, And wretches hang that jury men may dine".


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