Hamza Yusuf An Essay on Man with Tom Jones
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Sep 27, 2023 Delve into the influences and beliefs of Alexander Pope, exploring his rebellious nature shaped by societal turmoil. Reflect on Quranic ideals of social class and equality of happiness, contrasting Pope and Johnson's views on poverty. Analyze Pope's metaphors on family dynamics and nature's nurturing aspects, and explore responsibility, agriculture, and the chain of being. Reflect on societal evolution, divine rights, and the interconnectedness of nature in 'An Essay on Man'. Finally, contemplate themes of order and chaos from Shakespeare to modern warfare.
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Pope's Minority Background Shapes His Voice
- Alexander Pope's Catholic minority background and exclusion shaped his outsider satirical stance and autodidactic erudition.
- His early exposure to religious controversies influenced his subtle religious themes in the poem.
Pope's Illness And Outsider Temper
- Hamza Yusuf recalls Pope's severe illness (Pott's disease) and small stature shaping his satirical boldness.
- Yusuf suggests Pope's persecuted minority status sharpened his rebellious literary voice.
Natural Religion And Providential Order
- Pope emphasizes natural religion and providence over sectarian doctrine to preserve social cohesion after civil conflict.
- He sometimes flirts with Stoic or pantheistic language, prompting contemporaries' theological worries.