Compare and Contrast of the Work of Donne and Pope - Essay Example

Compare and Contrast of the work of Donne and Pope In order to look closely at the works of Pope and Donne, specifically An Essay on Man” AlexanderPope and Holy Sonnet 1 by John Donne, it is important to compare and contrast the two pieces with one prevailing theme in mind. The specific theme in which this discussion will focus on is the interrelated existence of God through man and man through God. The cyclic action of one being a function of the other is centrifugal to illuminating the way each author presented God and also man. Both authors focus on rhetoric which serves to define God as immortal and man as mortal. The use of language and tone by both Donne and Pope will be discussed comparatively within both of these works. To begin, the large work entitled An Essay on Man can be segmented into smaller works, beginning with the portion entitled To Henry St. John Lord Bolingbroke. This portion of the essay is written in a lyrical format which immediately seems to spatially orient mankind within the realm of life, death and existence as very mortal. “Let us since life can little more supply/ than just to look about us and then to die”(Pope, 3-4). This segment seems to set the groundwork for the emphasis that man is mortal and is inevitably subject to death. The piece continues on to line 6 where it seems to offer a hopeful reminder to readers by reminding us that there is ultimately, a plan, “A mighty maze! But, not without a plan;”(Pope, 6). This clearly suggests that there is something greater than man or life itself. Pope seems to be building up to an introduction of God or a greater power which the reader can discover in line 16, is in fact God. “But vindicate the ways of God to man”(Pope, 16). This is clearly an assertion of God as a higher force and than man is beneath the ways of God. Pope essentially begins to define God for his reader by separating the ’way’ of God and the ’ways’ of man. The next line seemingly repeats this same theme, “Say first of God above or man below”(Pope, 17). Once again, God is being depicted by Pope as being spatially oriented to man by being ’above’ him which serves to indicate his power over man or his goodness over the failed attempts at goodness of man. Switching over to the work being discussed by Donne, the first line sets the tone of the work by declaring, “Though has made me, and shall thy work decay?”(Donne, 1). This is an obvious establishment of God as the greater being while man is the inferior being. Furthermore, this line seems to indicate a direct monologue addressed to God as opposed to Pope’s monologue about God to someone else. Donne recognizes that the God he knows, has created him and then goes on to ask God if his work will decay or rather, asks the obvious which is whether man is mortal so to speak (mortal and being subject to decay). Both Pope and Donne discuss death in their respective works but it is as though Donne is viewing death as something which he anticipates eagerly due to his religious concept of God as a creator and a master, “I run to death and DEATH greets me as fast/ And all my pleasures are like yesterday“(Donne, 3-4). Pope on the other hand seems to be discussing death in a more matter of fact or defeated manner. It is as though Pope is sort of accepting the inevitable with a sense of understanding while Donne embraces the idea of death as a unification with his master. Pope uses a theme of enormity and grandiose to sort of minimize man by depicting the vastness of the Universe. It is as though he is simultaneously doing so to continue to create a vast distance between the greatness of God and the minimal existence of man, Presumptuous man! “The reason wouldst thou find/ why formed so weak, so little, and so blind”(Pope, 35-36). It is interesting that Pope reminds his readers of the infinite creation of God while giving so little credit to the worth of man which presumably is also God’s creation. This is certainly meant as a comparison which serves to create the image of God which Pope intends to pass on to his reader. Donne however continues with a theme of acknowledging and accepting death as an inevitable part of life while being a means of reuniting with his creator. “I dare not move my dim eyes any way ; Despair behind, and Death before doth cast Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh. Only Thou art above, and when towards Thee By Thy leave I can look, I rise again”(Donne, 5-10). Donne uses absolute life and death as language form in which to deliver his ideas and his overall point. Pope similarly, uses language which sets finite or even infinite imagery to illustrate the vastness of God. This is done to speak to the reader in terms of comparison. For example, if one is trying to point out how large or small something is, there is usually a comparison made to something else which is a universal reference when considering size. The universe for example, sets a backdrop for where to begin when imagining God. “Through worlds unnumbered though the God be known/ Tis ours to trace him only in our own”(Pope, 21-22). In this exert, Pope points out the fact that the universe is unimaginably full of ‘worlds’ and then places man in the position of only being able to grasp this world in which we live. Pope is fervently emphasizing the largeness or infiniteness of God through use of comparative speech. Both Donne and Pope derive their inspiration through individual understanding of their respective perception of God. Pope’s entire work seems to make comparisons which align man with elemental images of nature and the universe; to create one large picture of God and then man’s relationship to that God or creator. Donne on the other hand is lees wordy but grafts a more personal depiction of God and the placement of man in a world governed by God. “That not one hour myself I can sustain. Thy grace may wing me to prevent his art And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.”(Donne, 12-14). This exert illustrates the personal connection which Donne finds between himself and God making God a bit more tangible than Pope’s ideal God. Pope seems to require more imagery and overall length to deliver his interpretation of God and man‘s placement within the same universe as that God. He goes on to mention heaven which is similar in nature to Donne‘s seemingly embrace of death or the afterlife. “Heaven hides from all creatures the book of fate”(Pope, 77). Pope is implying that not only is there an afterlife but that even the fate or future of all things, is controlled by God. This is an even more in-depth description of God in the realm of man. The fact that there is fate which is beyond man’s control and that Heaven is aware of this fate; is a clear indication that Pope is essentially saying that God id omniscient and in control of all things. In conclusion, both Donne and Pope used language as a vehicle to deliver a message or a picture rather; of how God and man are interwoven while existing on different planes. Pope and Donne both, used organic comparisons in order to show this connection as God and man being dependant on one another. It is as though man is a function of the existence of God and therefore a validation of God’s existence. In turn, man exists because God chose to create man. In other words, if man was not created by God and characterized by weakness or dependence; God is somehow not validated or characterized as a deity or higher power. Comparing God to man provides a platform for comparison. If man did not exist than God would be the only being and comparable to nothing. God therefore can be said to exist through man and man can be said to exist through God. This dichotomy is the sum of everything and one cannot really be without the other. Pope specifically, exhibited an ideology that humans must be content with the ‘plan’ or fate of God. He did so in a way that lacked any sense of doubt or resistance to his impending fate. At the same time, Pope drew upon the same elemental language used by Donne to juxtapose man against the existence of God as man’s fate is in the hands of his/ her creator. Pope carried an optimistic tone throughout each line of his lengthy work, An Essay on Man. His optimism was routed in his faith but also in his resignation to accept all that came to be as the will of God. Both poets shared a common conceptualized image of God and how God related the all that we are and all that we know. Works Cited: Donne, John, 1635, Poems of John Donne, Volume I, E.K. Chambers. Pope, Alexandar., 1774, An Essay on Man Epistle 1 Read More

Both Pope and Donne discuss death in their respective works but it is as though Donne is viewing death as something which he anticipates eagerly due to his religious concept of God as a creator and a master, “I run to death and DEATH greets me as fast/ And all my pleasures are like yesterday“(Donne, 3-4). Pope on the other hand seems to be discussing death in a more matter of fact or defeated manner. It is as though Pope is sort of accepting the inevitable with a sense of understanding while Donne embraces the idea of death as a unification with his master.

Pope uses a theme of enormity and grandiose to sort of minimize man by depicting the vastness of the Universe. It is as though he is simultaneously doing so to continue to create a vast distance between the greatness of God and the minimal existence of man, Presumptuous man! “The reason wouldst thou find/ why formed so weak, so little, and so blind”(Pope, 35-36). It is interesting that Pope reminds his readers of the infinite creation of God while giving so little credit to the worth of man which presumably is also God’s creation.

This is certainly meant as a comparison which serves to create the image of God which Pope intends to pass on to his reader. Donne however continues with a theme of acknowledging and accepting death as an inevitable part of life while being a means of reuniting with his creator. “I dare not move my dim eyes any way ; Despair behind, and Death before doth cast Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh. Only Thou art above, and when towards Thee By Thy leave I can look, I rise again”(Donne, 5-10).

Donne uses absolute life and death as language form in which to deliver his ideas and his overall point. Pope similarly, uses language which sets finite or even infinite imagery to illustrate the vastness of God. This is done to speak to the reader in terms of comparison. For example, if one is trying to point out how large or small something is, there is usually a comparison made to something else which is a universal reference when considering size. The universe for example, sets a backdrop for where to begin when imagining God.

“Through worlds unnumbered though the God be known/ Tis ours to trace him only in our own”(Pope, 21-22). In this exert, Pope points out the fact that the universe is unimaginably full of ‘worlds’ and then places man in the position of only being able to grasp this world in which we live. Pope is fervently emphasizing the largeness or infiniteness of God through use of comparative speech. Both Donne and Pope derive their inspiration through individual understanding of their respective perception of God.

Pope’s entire work seems to make comparisons which align man with elemental images of nature and the universe; to create one large picture of God and then man’s relationship to that God or creator. Donne on the other hand is lees wordy but grafts a more personal depiction of God and the placement of man in a world governed by God. “That not one hour myself I can sustain. Thy grace may wing me to prevent his art And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.”(Donne, 12-14). This exert illustrates the personal connection which Donne finds between himself and God making God a bit more tangible than Pope’s ideal God.

Pope seems to require more imagery and overall length to deliver his interpretation of God and man‘s placement within the same universe as that God. He goes on to mention heaven which is similar in nature to Donne‘s seemingly embrace of death or the afterlife. “Heaven hides from all creatures the book of fate”(Pope, 77). Pope is implying that not only is there an afterlife but that even the fate or future of all things, is controlled by God. This is an even more in-depth description of God in the realm of man.

The fact that there is fate which is beyond man’s control and that Heaven is aware of this fate; is a clear indication that Pope is essentially saying that God id omniscient and in control of all things.

Read More