An Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot

An Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot – Pope depicts his home as under siege by mediocre poets (“poetasters”) who pester him for literary favors and money. He humorously orders his servant to “shut the door” to keep out the “madness” of the literary world. Pope discusses the burden of fame, comparing himself to Midas and his “asses’ ears”. He ridicules the vanity of his contemporaries while Arbuthnot advises him to be prudent with his naming of public figures.