In An Essay on Man Alexander Pope explains that humans are positioned in the correct order and should never question God judgment. The perfect order Pope describes was; first God, second angels, third humans and lastly animals and precious metals. Man's place between angels and animals is unyielding and steady. In Epistle 1 he states that man is positioned correctly in the universe, and it is a sin to question Gods verdict. Pope's motivation of writing this poem was to explain how ungrateful and dim-witted people have become. God created humans, Gods children; why should humans be able to over take their creator and father? Alexander Pope begins by asking rhetorical questions in order to prove his point:.
Say first, of god above, or man below,.
What can we reason, but from what we know?.
Of man, what see we but his station here,.
From which to reason, or to which refer? (I. 1. 17-20).
Alexander Pope then illustrates the imperfections in humans "Why formed us so weak, so little, so blind"(I 36). Alexander Pope also relates the relation ship between humans to God as to weeds are to oak trees. "Ask of thy mother, why oaks are made / Taller or stronger than the weeds they shade?" ( I. 1. 39-40). As Gods servants we are in his shadow, much like the weeds that are eclipsed by the oak. It is has always been that way and it will always be so. Alexander Pope implies that God is correct to allow an imperfection in man, and that God's wisdom proclaim is always right. Also in Pope's writing he acknowledges that what we call imperfection in man cannot be linked to God's injusticeness. .
So man, who here seems principal alone,.
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. (I.1. 57-60) .
If man could relate his imperfection to God's intricate order. If man could see the master plan, we would understand that humans have not been wronged by God.
