Alexander Pope believed that each person has a "ruling passion . . . , a single irresistible desire" (Norton 2597). In his "Epistle 2. To a Lady," he argues that although men may have many different ruling passions, only two are found in women: "The love of pleasure, and the love of sway [or power]" (line 210). Anne Ingram, Viscountess Irwin wrote "An Epistle to Mr. Pope" in response to Pope's poem. In it, she argues that both men and women desire power, but women have been limited by society's customs, particularly as regards education. Which view of women seems more realistic to you, Pope's or Irwin's? Find lines in either poem which support or illustrate your view.
(Note: You will find the second paragraph on page 2597 helpful in understanding Pope's poem. Lines 1-198 are "a portrait gallery of ladies that illustrates their inconsistency and volatility." This is the most difficult part of the poem, and you do not have to understand all of it. Lines 199-248 are on the subject of ruling passions. Finally, lines 249-92 describe Pope's ideal of womankind.)
Honestly, the writing by Pope was very difficult to understand. Ingram's work makes much more sense but only because it is easier to understand. I am going to have to say that her writing is the most accurate because of this. It also makes sense though. During the time this was written, women were oppressed and in a "Gothic state" (Line 115). The women were not given the tools to learn and be educated. It was odd for women to have their nose in a book or to write too often. Women were merely used for breeding and house keeping.
ReplyDeletePope really makes no sense to me. Trying to understand what he wrote is like reading a foreign language. He seems all over the place too. One minute he is talking about being queen, then rage, then age. I don't follow anything he is saying. I would write a little more about what he has written except I don't know where to start. He ends it with "The generous god, who wit and gold refines,/And ripens spirits as he ripens mines,/ Kept dross for duchesses, the world shall know it,/ To you gave sense, good humor. and a poet" (Lines 289-292). I think he is saying that God gives people wit and looks and personality. He is saying that god doesn't short women from men but they both have desires even though they may be different. I am probably wrong though because the footnote talks about Phoebus Apollo and metals in the earth. I just want to go over this in class on Monday to get some sort of understanding on what Pope is trying to say. The only clue of what is going on in his work is from Ingram's response.
I neither agree or disagree with Young September. It does seem though, that Irwin’s view makes more sense under the modern conception of gender equality. But aside from that- I don’t necessarily understand the question you are asking us. “Which view of women seems more realistic to you” Do you want us to comment on which perspective we agree with most for the woman of that era- or for the modern era? Although you could make an unethical argument that Pope’s description of women holds true today, most people would strongly disagree. Women are much more prevalent in the intelligent world today than they were at any time before. Assuming you had asked us which is more realistic for the modern female; Irwin’s views are much closer to our reality.
ReplyDeleteIf you are asking us to side with one of the two arguments on the reality of a woman from nearly 300 years ago, the debate would become more interesting. Pope seemed to show a bitter hate towards woman, particularly demeaning their intellectual properties. And I agree with him- But before I get an onslaught of angry female responses, I would like to clarify what I agree with. If I was a male in that era, I would find myself holding the same cynicism as Pope. Although the males had molded females to be no more than a doll that was useful for procreation only, you have to consider the power each sex has over the other- How can one mold the other? The females didn’t necessarily mold the males to be studious, hard-working, noble beings. The males seemed to take more initiative for their outcome while the woman seemed to be happy to take orders. They never seemed to question the status quo. I think this is truly what sparked the cynical fire within Pope. I do not believe that he thinks a male is born with a cerebral disposition than females; He just seems bothered that the females never truly garnered their brain’s capabilities.
In a way I think both perspectives are equally realistic. To me it seems that both Pope and Irwin are almost in agreement, but with different perspective. Yes, Pope was correct, the woman of that era were not at the forefront of intellectual works- Irwin seems to agree too, the main reason they were not is because the males didn’t want them to be (or allow them to be). Irwin creates a metaphor comparing the formulization of intellect to the cultivation of a harvest, “A female mind like a rude fallow lies/No seed is sown, but weeds spontaneous rise./As well might we expect, in winter, spring,/As land untilled a fruitful crop should bring;” Then goes on, cleverly finishing her metaphor, “Wit, judgment, sense--fruits of the human mind” She shows that she realizes that the females, at the time, were second in the gender race of intelligence. But she notes- that you can’t say that a female’s mind is weaker than a male’s because it was never fashioned to be used for greater thinking. Paralleled in the thought of crops, if you never seed and till the land, there will obviously be no crops; but that does not mean that the farmland is unable to grow a plentiful harvest.