!! Absalom and Achitophel

Ques.
Dryden blends the heroic and the satiric in Absalom and Achitophel
with illustrations form the text.
Ans. An epic or heroic poem is a long narrative poem on a serious subject written in a grand style
centered on a noble action of a noble character. Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel is a political satire in
the basis of epic tradition.
Dryden was belong to Restoration period so we can easily say Dryden’s this work is mirror of that
period. We have found several historical stories through this poem. In this period, there were several
political parties in England. Among them Whig and Tory were common. Whig was
Protestant and against the king and Tory was Catholic and supporter of king. As the relation between
these two parties was not good so when they expressed anything through their writing they used satire
form in their writing for opposite party. In this way, satire became popular form among the parties, but
as a poet or writer, Dryden used satire as a literary form in his poem in a good way.
Satire is a literary attack on the follies and vices of individual or society in order to correct them through
laughter and ridicule. It has some characteristics. These are·
Literary form of expression.
· Disgust at the ugly and foolishness.
· Humour.
· A sincere desire to correct or reform.
In the poem Dryden satirizes the English people, Parliament and politicians of England but the poem is
heroic in matters of action and theme. The poem is heroic in scale and its theme is not trivial. Its
structure is complex and dialogue is grand. The poem is written for the purpose of exciting public feeling
against Shaftesbury, leader of the Whig party, who was trying to exclude the Catholic Duke of York from
the succession line to the throne and wanted to put the Duke of Monmouth, an illegitimate son of
Charles Il, on the throne. Dryden was also supporter of Tory. He was called Staunch Tory.
Dryden attacked Earl of Shaftesbury. With his brilliant tricks he represented Shaftesbury as hypocrite.
Dryden in Absalom and Achitophel also criticized Duke of Buckingham with whom he had personal
conflict. When Dryden joined as a poet-laureate and historiographer to the government in 1670, he got
both money and recognition. Being jealous of Dryden’s such prosperity, some contemporary high
officials started making fun of him. Duke of Buckingham was one of those people. In his literary
work, The Rehearsal, he strongly criticized Dryden. In Absalom and Achitophel, Dryden took the revenge
of making fun of him.
In his poem, Dryden compared the Duke of Buckingham to the Biblical character Zimri, who being lured
of the throne of Israel, killed his master and ascended to the throne thought Zmiri could only survive for
seven days as the king of Israel. In reality, Duke of Buckingham was initially a friend of King Charles II,
but when the religious chaos between Whig and Tories started, he joined the Whig, the rebel group of
King Charles II.
Absalom and Achitophel makes a remarkable use of Biblical allegory to raise the political satire to a
higher level. In the poem King David stands for Charles Il, Absalom for the Duke of Monmouth and
Achitophel for the first Earl of Shaftesbury. Here Dryden’s allegory attains a splendid effect.
The style of Absalom an Achitophel is essentially heroic. In Dryden’s heroic style, the plot, the
characters, the wit, the passions the descriptions, are all exalted above the level of common converse „
Dryden here uses Biblical story in an epic manner. The verse of the poem is dignified in style. His unusual
arrangement of words is marked by heroic style:
Him staggering so when Hell’s dire agent found, While fainting virtue
scare maintained her ground,
He pours fresh forces in, and thus replies.
Absalom and Achitophel is heroic in its characterization. We have epic style in the descriptions of the
King’s supporters. The same epic mode is found in the portrayal of Absalom (Duke of Monmouth) and
Achitophel (Shaftesbury).
Shaftesbury is compared to Satan who tempted Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of forbidden tree.
Absalom is his victim because without his temptation Absalom did not revolt against his father. Absalom
and Achitophel exhibits a splendid blend of the heroic with the witty. In his portrait of Achitophel,
Dryden refers to Achitophel’s son as “that unfeathered,
two legged thing, born a shapeless lump, like anarchy” The son was conceived by his wife when his
mind “did huddled notions try” Dryden employs his wit in his portrayal of Shimei who was devoted to
God but he hated the kingship. He violated the sanctity of Sabbath if he could make money by doing so.
Dryden’s wit is also seen in his ironical attack on Corah but the best example of his wit can be found in
his portrait of Zimri who is a humorous symbol of inconstant man. He epitomizes all mankind. because
sometimes he was a chemist, sometimes a musician, sometimes a statesman and sometimes a clown.
He had a great interest in women, poetry, painting and drinking.
Thus, Absalom and Achitophel is political satire cast in a heroic mould. It can be called a miniature epic.
An epic is patriotic and didactic. Absalom and Achitophel is also patriotic and didactic.

!! Absalom and Achitophel

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!! Absalom and Achitophel

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Ques.

Literary form of expression.

· Disgust at the ugly and foolishness.

· A sincere desire to correct or reform.

scare maintained her ground,

He pours fresh forces in, and thus replies.

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