Anne Ingram, Viscountess Ingram's Ideas about women in An Epistle to Mr. Pope - Essay Example

? Anne Ingram, Viscountess Ingram's Ideas about women in "An Epistle to Mr. Pope" The main idea surrounding these literary exchanges is the concept of misogyny, which could be described as hatred or a very strong prejudice shown against the female gender. It is generally thought that directed towards women by men, although in some instances women could also hold these misogynistic ideas against men. However, it could be fully compared to anti-woman sexism or misandry. This idea is propagated through expression of self-image, creation of phobia to situations, activities, people, or objects, intuition or knowledge, and depiction of maternal bond. Pope, at the time of Anne Ingram, was thought to hold these misogynistic views. He happened to have written many poems which depicted a woman in quite an inferior position and at times exalting the pope’s stature in relation to women. In her illustration, she turns the tables for the pope and ends up using his own verse technique and other principles that he held against him. As we can see in numerous couplets written by Pope, there are very sharp contrasts between the characters of men and those of women. However, in her writing, Ingram uses the form of couplet in placing huge emphasis on what the female and male gender do possess in common. In her argument, Ingram states clearly that there is not much difference, if any, since both man and woman desire to have one thing, which is common: love of power, and that this motivates both male and female sexes. Interestingly, Ingram chooses to use a positivist kind of model, in which she blatantly addresses Mr. Pope as an equal with little regard to his own perceived stature, in a verse similar to the ones he uses. The most exhilarating thing that comes out clearly in her poem is the fact that she proves similar modes of thinking inherent in both man and woman. They both simply think alike (Ingram 2604 -2607). She introduces her poem with a very harsh snarl…”Pernicious dwarf! The malice of thy tongue”….. This is truly a serious dent on the pope’s character. It shows the kind of hard feelings Ingram had for the pope following his character and writings against women. It demeans his thoughts and talk. When we look at the second line of her poem, we find an insight into the future. In her thinking, she argues that if the pope were to live in a different era, such a demeaning character would definitely see him executed. This she attributes to the ill rhymes the pope writes with what she considers as his ‘poison pen’! Ingram reads nothing from this more than the pope revealing himself as the very most miserable person among all men (Ingram 2604 -2607). Feminism and enlightenment ideas about women are fully expressed by Ingram. She spoke her mind with full authority and wit, something not characteristic of women at her time. She does foreshadow Wollstonecraft’s concept of having a complete education and she further asserts that when it comes to intellect, men and women have no difference. Thus, in “An Epistle to Mr. Pope” she says: …’tis the same principle impels them both…. …what makes the difference then you may inquire… …in education all the difference lies… ….women, if taught, would be as bold and wise…” She challenges the patriarchal authority and Ingram asserts herself with expression of certain opinions she has over women in society. She thinks that women need to be treated with dignity and appreciated just like men. Her despise for poor treatment of ladies is seen when she says that pope admired Lady Mary yet when she returned, he treated her contrary to what was expected. And since then, the way Mary is referred to have always been …”disgraceful, venomous, and quite obscene”…. Ingram holds that pope fail to put into account the fact that women have a different mode of socialization when compared to men. In her argument defending women, she argues that it is not true to say women are empty vessels with no mind of their own. She however puts it that they simply do not put their mind to use. She asserts the idea that indeed, women are born and bred with the aspect of valuing their own beauty and style above anything else that exists on earth and in doing so; they simply do fail to cultivate their own minds as would ne demanded by men like Mr. Pope (Ingram 2604 -2607). Her ideas about women are of the view that women are twisted within the aspects of beauty and vanity. Rather than finding a direct contrast between man and woman, she finds it common that they both have brains. The fact that women do not happen to think the way the Pope wants or men would want does not imply that women have no minds of their own. Depicting women as empty vessels does not present the true picture of what or who a woman is. They are simply blinded by the pursuit for beauty and this is meant for the eyes of men. This could also be explained from the point of view of how women did carry out themselves through the 18th century when these poetic events were taking place. The women simply perpetuated themselves as objects of use by men and had no indication of using their minds as seen by Pope (Ingram 2604 -2607). Ingram’s ideas about women in this poetic presentation are feminist in nature and thus paint women as equals to men. In her argument, she tried to inform the pope that anything which happened to drive a woman into what she was doing at the time, the man also was being driven by the same force as well. This she presents when she argues that there is nothing like a male or female youth or like a man and woman old when we look at their joys, loves and their hates. As such, different acts seem to impact on growth of different sexes but the same sort of principle still impels both of them (Ingram 2604 -2607). The strength of a woman and her character as compared to that of man is the same. She thinks that there is no need to seclude a woman from what was seen as a man’s job or environment. She presents a woman as being of same stature and strength just like that of a man. For this reason, she holds that she believes anything doable by a man can be done by a woman too and it is even possible for a woman to do it better! We see these sentiments in the current 21st century where the role of women in society is upheld and matters to do with gender equality through gender sensitivity have been put forward and are being practiced. As I said, her poetic view almost reflected what the future held. In this current world, gender equality is propagated and it has surely been proven that a woman could do anything a man can do. Anne Ingram’s work was simply a way of standing up to egomaniac men (Ingram 2604 -2607). References Ingram Anne. “An Epistle to Mr. Pope,” The Norton Anthology: English Literature, 8th ed. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 2006. 2604 -2607 Read More