Allusions

Within this essay are so many allusions to people, philosophies, and writings that I don't know. Many points Pope was trying to make were lost on me for this very reason. Did the people reading this essay in Pope's time know all of these allusions? Does it take away credibility, or add to it when there are so many allusions that readers (at least readers today) don't know? Is this something worthwhile to read, even when one doesn't understand the allusions it presents? 1205469257