Alexander Pope & "Epistle to a Lady: Characters of Women"

In "Epistle to a Lady: Characters of Women" Alexander Pope describes women and gives us a "man's perspective" on what women looked like to them during this time period. He argues that women either seem to have no character or are portrayed as rude whores. He explains there is a certain way women should be behaving: taking care of the house, the chores that come along with it, and possibly children. This has been a stereotype for women for a long time. Yet Pope explains that not all women fit into common stereotypes meaning not all women are the same, or have the same characteristics. Pope talks about how women use their beauty not only to express themselves but also to differentiate themselves from other women. He continues to bash women as a whole by listing more negative "descriptives" for women. Pope believes women contradict themselves, by saying they follow certain values and religious virtues, then go out and act completely different. What I find ironic is he says things should be viewed in different ways, yet he is criticizing women based on his one opinion of them. He claims not all women are the same or will fit into one single stereotype, yet he is doing exactly that: stereotyping women.