Hello,
I am Nidhi Jethava and in this blog I am going to discuss two important quotes from the well known political satire ' Absalom and Achitophel' by well known poet John Dryden.
John Dryden :-
Dryden is the most important character in the time of Charles II.He was born near Oundle in Northamptonshire. Dryden is English poet, satirist, translator, literary critic and play writer.
In 1668 he was appointed as poet laureate of England. Dryden belonged to Restoration Age and Edward Albert in his history book introduces whole age on his name.
He is also well-known poet especially his best poem ' Absalom and Achitophel'
Dryden is also the best satirist and his work ' An Essay on Dramatic poesy' is the best satirical drama.
About The poem ' Absalom and Achitophel' :-
The poem ' Absalom and Achitophel' is world renowned poem by John Dryden.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44172/absalom-and-achitophel
The text is that of the second edition, which appeared in the same year (1681)as the first, but to which Dryden made important additions: the twelve lines on Shaftesbury, beginning "So easy proves still it proves in factious times" (180-910), and the four on Monmouth, beginning " But on that yet he would repent and lives!"(957-60).
Here I'm giving the character list with bible and allegorical references, it will help for illustrate well.
Let's Discuss two important quotes from the poem :
1. Quote
In pious times, ere priest-craft did begin,
Before polygamy was made a sin;
When man, on many, multipli'd his kind,
Ere one to one was cursedly confin'd:
When Nature prompted, and no Law deni'd
Promiscuous use of concubine and bride;
Then, Israel's monarch, after Heaven's own heart,
His vigorous warmth did variously impart
To wives and slaves: and, wide as his command,
Scatter'd his Maker's image through the land.
- lines 1 to 10
These are the beginning lines of the poem. As we knew that Dryden is well known satirist this poem represented his achievement as the greatest satirist.
This poem is the political allegory. In this poem Dryden take a story from the Bible and represented his own time. The poem is written on heroic couplet - iambic pentameter where pairs of lines from rhyme. There is an AABB rhyming scheme.
Before evaluating these line I would like to give light on the term of satire and allegory
Allegory :- An allegory is a narrative, whether in prose or verse, in which the agents and actions, and sometimes the setting as well, are contrived by the author to make coherent sense on the " literary," or primary, level of signification, and at the same time to communicate a second, correlated order of signification. - M.H. Abrahams
Satire :- Satire can be described as the literary art of diminishing or derogating a subject by making it ridiculous and evoking toward it attitudes of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation.
Illustration of the lines :-
The poem begins by evoking the "pious times" in which David, " Israel monarch," ruled. Polygamy was not sinful, " priest-craft" had not begun, and the Law did not forbid a man from taking both concubine and bride. David scattered his seed throughout the land though he was married to Michal. Michal did not give him a son, and although several women bore the god-like David sons, they were illegitimate and thus could not ascend the throne.
This is just summary but through this admiring words like "pious time". This poem is political allegory reflect the time of James II. Dryden put satire that polygamy and having many relationship were not sin that time. The King David had many illegitimate son. Dryden described that time as "pious time". pious means holy time. Through this beginning lines poet put light on time and character. With the help of biblical characters poet says about king Charles II. Contemporary situation of England and this character who is full of vices, but by the help of literary element, these praising words reflected the darker side of king's character.
2.Quote
These Adam-wits, too fortunately free,
Began to dream they wanted liberty:
lines 51-52
These lines described the nature of Jews. Jews were a headstrong, moody, murm'ring race. Poet especially mentioned that they are the child of God. The most desirable child of god. according to one key for the poem, this passage is " Apparently a reference to those who, like Adam, could not be satisfied with true freedom under God's law and wrongly yearned for more. To Dryden the English of the late seventies and early eighties who complained of arbitrary government, like their predecessors of the forties, would have been Adam-wits ." This is the example of how skillfully Dryden utilized biblical allusions and law how he was able to subtly but compelling use them to comment on the people and events of his one day. Not all of his phrases are easily accessible to modern readers, but once they are defined, they yield continual revelations as to Dryden's wit .
Here I am putting two videos which will be helpful to evaluate further.
Conclusion :-
In nutshell we can say that this poem is the masterpiece of Dryden. Whole poem has allegorical references and satire. The poem tells biblical tale of the Absalom against his step-father King David. In this context it is an allegory used to represent a story contemporary to Dryden, concerning King Charles II and the execution crisis(1679-81). The poem also references the Popish Plot and the Monmouth Rebellion. Dryden was poet laureate of that time so he didn't directly satirized on the character and nature of the king. So Dryden choose smart way and with the help of the biblical story he discusses vices of that time. How king, Civilizations and society were connected. At the end of the poem King David won the faith of people and the chain of great beings remained safe. The Heaven wanted King David and that is why all goes in favor of king David. Somewhere this poem is very similar to our time as well. Literature always calls past in present but this poem presented previous past in past and past in present.
Characters :- 9523
Words :- 1540
Sentences :- 183
Paragraphs :- 151
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