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Introduction to: Epistle DR ARBUTHNOT[edit]
In “The Major Works of Alexander Pope”, The Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot begins with the word Advertisement, followed by two paragraphs that has Pope himself passing the poem as “a sort of bill of complaint”. (Pope, 337) This precursor prepares the reader for what is to come, by Pope saying “ if anything offensive, it will only be only to those I am least sorry to offend”. ( Pope, 337) Pope’s poetry and persona has painted him as someone very opinionated, and while some of his poems such as “Rape of the Lock” mocked a woman’s sexuality, and obsession with looks, this poem has Pope referencing and verbally slaying those who wish him ill will and would like to take advantage of his literary talent. By doing this though it also allows him to explain why he feels he is a literary genius. Wether Pope is really full of himself is hard to tell even when his words seem to hint at that direction. Stephanson in “The Yard of Wit- Male Creativity and Sexuality , 1650-1750 however seems to feel that Pope’s anger derives from his feelings of sexual inadequacy, and that “ Pope’s head and groin were put up for sale” (Stephanson, 159)
This poem has Pope not only taking it up with fellow authors but also the heigh-archy as well. It allows the reader to wonder if Pope really felt backed into a wall and felt like he needed to attack back to save face or was this all a ploy to see how talented he is with a quill pen. However perhaps to understand Pope it is easiest to learn about his past. Pope as early as a teenager seemed to start becoming submerged in the literary world which had him trying to enter a special club of literary men who were considered greats. It’s when this is learned that Pope’s story seems to gain some sort of sympathy. According to Stephanson, Pope’s friends were much older than him and show that perhaps poem struggled with being accepted.