Absalom is a misguided instrument in Achitophel’s hands. The false Achitophel is a man of wisdom, wit, restlessness, and flexible morality. An illustration of a person's head and chest. Here, we will look at the first speech of Achitophel, which, as mentioned a moment ago, has echoes of Milton’s Satan. A Key to Absalom and Achitophel. He then states the “facts” that David is not fit to rule and suggests that Israel needs a military ruler of manly character. Certainly, the poet notes, “Great wits are sure to madness near alli’d; / And thin partitions do their bounds divide.” Achitophel toils and bears anarchy; he desires nothing more than to ruin or rule Israel. Lines 230-302. The obscure and the complicated is made clear and simple. Lines 545-681 Satiric portraits of the key players in the Exclusion crisis. Absalom and Achitophel, line 12. To discredit the opponents he had to emphasise on Monmouth’s illegitimacy; but at the same time he had to see that Charles (who was Monmouth’s father) was not adversely affected by his criticism. All this transforming power is to be seen at the very beginning of Absalom and Achitophel. The Ohio State University Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Stanley J. Kahrl Renaissance and Restoration Drama Collection: Author: John Dryden: Licensing . Copyright © 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. David knew when to seize power, and Absalom should look to the young David as his model. Achitophel knew that as Absalom was the illegitimate son of the king and had thus no legal title to the throne, he would depend entirely on his support and backing. Dryden achieves all this cleverly and skilfully. There was great public unrest on account of the uncertainty of succession. Absalom and Achitophel is the most powerful satire in the English language. It may be said that Absalom and Achitophel has no rival in the field of political satire. Absalom, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleugh (1649-1685), the natural son of Charles II and Lucy Walters, who took the name of Scott upon his marriage with Annabel. An illustration of a magnifying glass. ” The ironical undertone cannot be missed; Dryden is obviously laughing up his sleeve at Charles himself, who, as a witty patron, could not have missed it, nor failed to enjoy it. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Absalom and Achitophel Analysis. For Dryden, anonymity gave him “at least the veneer of objectivity” and “fostered impartiality in the reader,” but the nature of Dryden's authorship was more curious than that: most readers guessed that only Dryden, Charles’s laureate, could have written such a genius poem.

He refutes the lies and misconceptions that have swirled around him.

Dryden contrasts the men who support Achitophel/Absalom with those who support David in both blatant and subtle ways. Captions. "Absalom and Achitophel Lines 1-302 Summary and Analysis". The political situation in Israel (England) had much to try to to with David’s (Charles II’s) virility, which, though wasted on a barren queen, produced many illegitimate progenies, of which far and away the fairest and noblest is Absalom (duke of Monmouth). Flattery is dangerous, and young Absalom is too ambitious and desirous of fame. For close designs and crooked counsels fit, Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit, Restless, unfixed in principles and place, In power unpleased, impatient of disgrace; A fiery soul, which working out its … Thus “prais’d, and lov’d, the noble youth remained.”, David reigns in peace, but that cannot last forever. There’s a … He warns the young man of his uncle and tells him he must try for the crown while his father still lives. The poem exists in two parts. "Absalom and Achitophel" is written in heroic couplet – iambic pentameter where pairs of lines form a rhyme. David may turn to the Pharaoh of Egypt for help, but Achitophel is confident Egypt’s friendship would be false. Bible References: Absalom’s story is found in 2 Samuel 3:3 and chapters 13-19.; Hometown: Absalom was born in Hebron, during the early part of David’s reign in Judah. Description English: the title page ... 5 September 1681: Source: Title page of first edition of book published 1681, Absalom & Achitophel. Importantly, though, he should not look at David now. If a fever boils the blood, the lake will flood. Summary. With a masterly touch he sets the poem: “In pious times are priestcraft did begin Before polygamy was made a sin; When man on maultiplied his kind, Ere one to one was cursedly confined. Dryden has justly been regarded as England's greatest satirist, and the epoch of Dryden has been fittingly styled the "Gol den Age of the English Sat i r e."2 To begin the analysis of the poem we should at first say a few words about John Dryden, the man who wrote “Absalom and Achitophel”, the political situation in England of that times and the reasons that inspired him to write it.At first the author published the poem anonymously, just to let it become an earworm in the society. And in the third, David makes a moving speech to his reunited subjects, concluding with the lines, “For lawful pow’r is still superior found; / When long driven back, at length it stands the ground.” After a history of how David came to dote on his illegitimate son, Dryden wrote, "But life can never be sincerely blest; / Heaven punishes the bad and proves the best" (43-44), preparing readers for a downward turn in the monarch's life. Due to censorship of both Tory and Whig writings, this was a common thing and could actually, as critic Randy Robertson notes, serve the writer’s ends. His satiric verse is majestic, what Pope calls: “The long majestic march and energy divine”. Dryden’s lash falls on the King’s enemies particularly the Earl of Shaftesbury. Dryden is unequalled at debating in rhyme and Absalom and Achitophel displays his power of arguing in verse. To begin, a quick explanation of the characters in this section. He was reckless politician without any principles who, “ having tried in vain to seduce Charles to arbitrary government had turned round and now drives down the current”. Dryden marks his satire with a concentrated and convincing poetic style. Absalom's hesitation and eventual agreement. As King Charles II did not have a legitimate child for the throne his brother James was suggested. Published in November 1681, the theme was suggested by the king to Dryden. Achitophel, who encourages Absalom to rebel against his father, is a contemptable man who resolves “to ruin or to rule the state.” Achitophel is a representation of Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, a Member of Parliament and founder of the Whig party, who opposed absolute monarchy in favor of a more democratic approach.