Absalom & Achitophel

                             Absalom and Achitophel (1681)

        ( Satirical Poem )          By 

                                                   John Dryden

                                    

   

       I am going to write another blog on Satirical  Poem , Absalom and Achitophel. This Blogspot is in response to the Classwork on Absalom and Achitophel assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad Sir.

      Absalom and Achitophel is a Satirical poem by John Dryden. Satire is a kind of Poetry. Dryden was written in  Heroic couplets. It was written in 1681. The Poem tells the Biblical tale of the Rebellion of Absalom against King David and the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681). The poem also references the Popish Plot (1678) and the Monmouth Rebellion (1685).It is also described as an allegory regarding Contemporary Political events.

About the Author

                                       

 

            John Dryden(1631-1700) was a well known playwright, English Poet, literary critic and translator. He was best known as a Satirist , although he wrote only two great original satires.  His most famous Poem, Absalom and Achitophel. Dryden was educated  at the University of Cambridge. His poetry celebrating Restoration so pleased Charles the Second that he was named Poet Laureate(1668) and Two years later, royal historiographer.

  About the Poem

            Absalom and Achitophel had a specific Political motivation. It was connected to the Popish Plot and moved to exclude. King David’s bastard son , Absalom , represented Monmouth. King David was the Third king of Israel.  Charles the second’s Catholic brother was James, Duke of York. Charles’s bastard son , James , Duke of Monmouth. While rumors existed that Charles had secretly married Lucy. 

          Absalom and Achitophel is "generally acknowledged” as the finest political satire in the English language. John Dryden’s publication of Absalom and Achitophel had a specific political motivation. This poem is a landmark Political satire. Dryden wrote the poem during the threat of revolution in England. 

           Each of the main characters corresponded to a real-life person in Dryden’s time. 

     David’s bastard son Absalom represented Monmouth. Achitophel represented the Earl of Shaftesbury. Shaftesbury had introduced to Parliament the Exclusion Bill to prevent York from taking the throne.  Zimri as George Villiers, the duke of Buckingham .

  David's dishonest counsellor, Achitophel, begins to stir up resentment for David and encourages Absalom to rise up against his father to ensure that David's brother will not ascend the throne. Both Absalom and Achitophel confuse David's mild nature for weakness, and after David runs out of patience, he is forced to excerpt his God given power  over the people of Israel and remind Absalom, Achitophel, and the people that he can stick them all down if he chooses.

Dryden’s choice of the Bible as allegory proved appropriate for his era. Most educated individuals agreed that the Bible could be used as a type of gloss to reveal truths civic, as well as religious. In the first, Achitophel tempts Absalom to overthrow his father. By referencing only the biblical characters to maintain his allegory , Dryden accomplished his purpose, which was to comment on the folly of the political clash between the Protestant Whigs and Catholic Tories. Dryden’s direct address “To the Reader” preceding the lengthy poem proves of interest. This poem used various allegorical represents:

David- The king of Israel

Absalom - James , the Duke of Monmouth

Achitophel - Antony Ashley Cooper, The Earl of Shaftesbury

Zimeri - George Villiers

Jonas - William Jones

 David’s Catholic brother - James the Second 

 Shimei - Slingsby Bethel

 Corah - Titus Oates

 Jotham - George Savile

    Against Charles the Second : Absalom , Achitophel, Corah , Zimeri, Shimei all the characters are against David.

Thank You. 

   

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