Thinking Activity : Absalom and Achitophel.

This Blog-post is a response of thinking activity which is given by Prof. Dilip Barad Sir. Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden. 

About the poem: 

To read Original Poem,CLICK HERE.

 

Verse Satire

Political Satire

Written in heroic couplets

Biblical Representation

Based on the second chapter of Bible Named, Samuel. (13-19.)

First Published in 1681

John Dryden written this poem to keep with Biblical references. In this poem he changed the name or places as well. As Anne.K.Kroock said that,'Satire history is so called mixed genre, one that often incorporates a verity of diverse elements,within a single work.

Satire is categorized in three parts,

• Horatian
• Juvenalian
• Menippean

Biblical Representation in the poem:

Major Characters:                        

Dryden’s character’s in Poem	Biblical Character’s
David	King Charles-II
Absalom	James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
Achitophel	Antony Ashley Cooper
Saul	Oliver Cromwell
David’s Brother	James-II
Corah	Titus Oates
Shimei	Slingsby Bethel
Zimri	George Villiers
The Pharaoh	Louis -XIV of France
Ishbosheth	Richard Cromwell
Jonas	William Jones
Zadoc	William Sancroft
Barzillai	James Butler
Barzillai’s Eldest Son	Thomas Butler
Jotham	George Savile
Amiel	Edward Seymour

   Minor Characters:

Dryden’s character’s in Poem	Biblical Character’s
Balaam	A prophet
Caleb	A spy
Nadab	disobeys God and is consumed by fire.
Zadock	the High Priest of Israel
Sagan of Jerusalem	A priest
Adriel	a nobleman in Israel
Hushai	Friend of Charles=II
Amonon	Son of Charles-II
Michal	Catherine, wife of Charles=II
Annabel	the Duke of Monmouth’s wife

  

 Political Satire:

As Dryden wrote in his preface which is mention as To the reader is.'It's not my intention to make an apology for my poem;some will think it needs no excuse, and other will receive none.The design I;m sure is honest; but he who draws his pen for one party must expect to make enemies of the other.' Here, he clearly mentioned that he is favored of one Government. He also wrote clearly about Pro-Politician.

According to BBC-HISTORY, In 1650, Charles did a deal with the Scots and was proclaimed king. With a Scottish army he invaded England but was defeated by Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He again escaped into exile and it was not until 1660 that he was invited back to England to reclaim his throne. Although those who had signed Charles I's death warrant were punished, the new king pursued a policy of political tolerance and power-sharing. His desire for religious toleration, due in large part to his own leanings towards Catholicism, were to prove more contentious. He made a number of attempts to formalise toleration of Catholics and Non-conformists but was forced to back down in the face of a strongly hostile parliament.

Dryden was pro-supporter  of the king of England named,Charles-II. Who was polygamy. He had many affairs and from them many children also. For his this sign some other political party got against him and his region of ruling.  Dryden also uses allegory in this poem. Here are the characters who are in the favor of David(Charles-II) and Achitophel (Antony Ashley Cooper.)

In Favoured of David (Charles-II)	In Favoured of Achitophel (Antony Ashley Cooper.)
Absalom James Scott, Duke of Monmouth	Absalom James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
Saul Oliver Cromwell	Corah Titus Oates
David’s brother James-II	Shimei Slingsby Bethel
The Pharaoh Louis -XIV of France	Zimri George Villiers
Ishbosheth Richard Cromwell	Jonas William Jones
Barzillai James Butler	Balaam A prophet
Barzillai’s Eldest Son Thomas Butler	Caleb A Spy
Jotham George Savile	Nadab disobeys God and is consumed by fire.
Amiel Edward Seymour
Zadock The High Priest Of Israel
Sagan of Jerusalem A priest
Adriel A nobleman in Israel
Hushai Friend of Charles=II

 

Words:609