An Essay on Man

A World Full of Order and Disorder 6/30/13

            In An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope the topic of order and disorder is debated. The author is trying to reconcile the belief in a divinely ordered universe; however, he is continuously acknowledging the existence of evil and disorder in the world.  Pope mentions a notion from the 18^th century called the Great Chain of Being. This notion states that the “elements of the universe took their places in a hierarchy ranging from the lowest matter to God” (Pope 91). Since he uses this notion as his defense he is stating that organization and the disorganization all stem from God and all have their place in the world.

            To explain organization Pope talks about disorganization. He writes, “In Pride, in reasoning Pride, our error lies; / All quit their sphere, and rush into the skies. / Pride still is aiming at the blest abodes, / Men would be Angels, Angels would be Gods. / Aspiring to be Gods, if Angels fell, / Aspiring to be Angels, Men rebel” (Pope lines 123 - 128). Pope is saying that the organization according to the chain, from lowest to highest, is Man, Angels, and then God. The disorganization comes from the fact that each one, minus God, wants to be higher than their current station. Man wants to be Angel, Angel wants to be God. In trying to be the next step up they fall and do not succeed, and they rebel. This rebellion leads to a type of evil. Man is no longer focused on God, he is selfish and only wishes to be an Angel.

            Later Pope writes, “Noting to add, and nothing to abate. / Each beast, each insect, happy in its own” (Lines 184 – 185). Here Pope knows that man wants to be more, but he is not, so all beings should be happy in their organized position because they cannot become something they are not. Near the end Pope also writes, “Where, one step broken, the great scale’s destroyed: / From Nature’s chain whatever link you strike, / Tenth or ten thousandth, breaks the chain alike” (Lines 244 – 246). Pope is again acknowledging that everything has a place in the world, and if you try to change your place then everything will fall. Good organization will keep the world safe, but evil (rebellion) will break it apart.

            Pope has some valid points such as good organization keeps the world a safe and happy place. When evil tries to invade the world is turned upside down and thrown into turmoil. There may not be a chain like the 18^th century notion says, but there is an order. Society is made up of different social classes; however, the social classes do not determine if someone is good or evil. Anybody can turn the world upside down with a single action, but if everyone tries to remain good and pure the “chain” is less likely to break.

Work Cited

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