An Epistle to a Lady (Alexander Pope)
An Epistle to a Lady is a satirical poem by Alexander Pope, first published in February 1735. Also known as Epistle II: To a Lady on the Characters of Women, it presents a series of contrasting portraits before ending with praise for its addressee, usually identified as Pope’s friend Martha Blount.[1]
Form and subject
The poem is written in heroic couplets: pairs of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter. Pope introduces the task of describing character through the language of painting. His portraits then emphasise contradictions between people’s changing wishes, public appearances and behaviour.[1]
Among the figures is Papillia, who longs for a park but dislikes the trees once she has it. Chloe is outwardly polite yet lacks generosity. These exaggerated portraits express the poem’s satirical view of women and society.[1]
The ending changes from criticism to appreciation. Addressing the woman to whom the poem is directed, Pope praises good sense, good humour and a balanced response to life’s disappointments.[1]
Publication and interpretation
The text developed beyond its first publication. The editorial notes in Representative Poetry Online identify passages added in 1744, including parts of the portraits of Philomede, Atossa and Chloe.[1]
Literary scholar William Hutchings places the poem within Pope’s exploration of women’s social position and the importance of friendship. He emphasises the closing tribute to Martha Blount as a counterpart to the satirical portraits.[2]
Related topics
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Alexander Pope, “Epistles to Several Persons: Epistle II: To a Lady on the Characters of Women”, Representative Poetry Online, University of Toronto, poem and editorial notes by D. F. Theall. Accessed 10 October 2026.
- ↑ William Hutchings, chapter 15, ‘Wit’s Wild Dancing Light’: Reading the Poems of Alexander Pope, Open Book Publishers, 2023, pp. 169–180, doi:10.11647/obp.0372.16. Public chapter abstract consulted; full chapter not reviewed.