How does An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot defend Alexander Pope’s role as a satirist?

In An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot (1735), Alexander Pope constructs a formal apology to defend his career and character against the persistent attacks of his detractors.12

Pope justifies his role as a satirist by grounding his work in a traditional ethical framework. He argues that the widespread depravity of public morals compelled him to act, positioning his satire as a necessary response to "outstanding offenders" who operated beyond the reach of the law. By targeting these figures, he claims to be upholding moral standards rather than acting out of personal malice.2

Furthermore, Pope emphasizes his own innocence and restraint. He asserts that he is free from personal rancour and has remained habitually forbearing even when under direct attack. Within the poem, he employs a variety of techniques—such as concealing the names of some targets while representing others as broader types—to illustrate his commitment to the satirist’s traditional duty of correcting vice without descending into mere personal abuse. Through this work, Pope successfully reframes his satirical output as a principled, defensive response to the corruption of his age.21