How Does Pope's Use Of Rationalism

Truth is found within; truth is relative; truth is believing in one’s own reality. Amy Hempel's short story “The Harvest,” Alexander Pope’s poem “An Essay on Man,” and John Keats’, “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” shed light on how to find truth, what it is, and what it isn’t. “An Essay on Man” uses rationalist idealism to convey that the reader must trust their instincts. That is essentially what Pope’s thesis is, “Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; the proper study of mankind is man.” One should not turn to a higher being for truth or answers; they should reflect upon themselves. If they are struggling with an idea, then the only way to find an answer is to study that idea. Later, he goes on to say that man is the, “Sole judge of truth” (Pope). Again there is no higher power that can show all a single truth; the individual must decide what they believe truth to be. These quotes are defining qualities of rationalist text. They also distinguish a path for one to find truth (by studying), and where to look (seek answers from one's self). Truth is found within, and truth is relative. “The Harvest” gives a platform for the reader to …show more content…
John Keats’ poem, “Ode on a Grecian Urn”, describes the surreal beauty of a vase and why it’s a fixed truth. Keats talks to the vase saying, “When old age shall this generation waste, thou shalt remain…” He means that when this generation dies the vase will still exist, it’s eternal. The vase has a truth because it is captivating and never changing, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty…” (Keats). It may make sense that if something is everlasting it is a fixed truth. But, a large part of that truth is the vase being beautiful. Beauty however, is relative. What one person my thinks is elegant another may think is dull. To say that there is a fixed truth may only apply for some. Truth cannot be fixed for all; everyone is an individual who processes information in