Absalom and Achitophel:An Introduction to the Political and Poetic Landscape

After years of civil war and Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell, the monarchy was restored in 1660 with Charles II as king. This period, known as the Restoration, brought back royal authority, but also deep divisions. Many feared a return to Catholicism, especially since Charles’s brother, James, Duke of York, was openly Catholic. These fears led to the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681), where Parliament tried to prevent James from inheriting the throne. Dryden’s poem responds directly to this crisis, defending the monarchy against rebellious factions.

In 1678, a man named Titus Oates falsely claimed there was a Catholic plot to kill Charles II. This lie, known as the Popish Plot, caused widespread panic and led to the execution of innocent people. Anti-Catholic sentiment grew stronger, fueling support for the Exclusion Bill. Dryden saw these events as dangerous and misleading, and in Absalom and Achitophel, he uses satire to expose how political ambition and public fear can distort truth.

Dryden cleverly uses biblical allegory to comment on real political figures. In the poem: - King David represents Charles II - Absalom, David’s rebellious son, stands for James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, Charles’s illegitimate son - Achitophel, the scheming advisor, symbolizes Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, a key supporter of the Exclusion Bill By using biblical names, Dryden masks his political critique in poetic form, making it both powerful and palatable. This strategy helps students see how literature can reflect and shape political discourse.

The Restoration Context (1660 onwards) - Restoration of the Monarchy: After the English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan rule, Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660. - Cultural Revival: Theatres reopened, and literature flourished. Writers like Dryden gained prominence as public intellectuals. - Political Tensions: Despite the monarchy’s restoration, England remained politically unstable, with fears of Catholic influence and succession crises.

The Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681) - Key Issue: Whether James, Duke of York (Charles II’s brother), a Catholic, should be excluded from the line of succession. - Whigs vs. Tories: - Whigs supported exclusion, fearing Catholic absolutism. - Tories defended hereditary monarchy and opposed exclusion. - Dryden’s Position: A staunch Tory, Dryden wrote Absalom and Achitophel to support Charles II and criticize the Whigs.

Dryden casts Absalom as the Duke of Monmouth, portraying him as the illegitimate son of Charles II who falls under Whig manipulation, while Achitophel represents the Earl of Shaftesbury, the mastermind behind the Exclusion Bill. Charles II himself appears in the guise of King David—a monarch both wise and troubled—and the Duke of Buckingham is lampooned as Zimri, a flickering embodiment of political opportunism. By mapping these biblical figures onto contemporaneous statesmen, Dryden condemns Monmouth’s and Shaftesbury’s rebellion as treacherous insurrection, even as he elevates Charles II to the role of a benevolent sovereign unjustly assailed by self-serving agitators. Beyond this passage, Dryden’s use of heroic couplets and ironic diction reinforces his moral judgments, marrying form to polemic. His allegory not only commented on the Exclusion Crisis and Monmouth Rebellion but also laid groundwork for later satirical traditions—its influence reaching poets like Alexander Pope in works such as the Dunciad. For teaching or further study, one might explore how Dryden balances praise and censure through meter, or examine how modern readers interpret his defense of monarchical authority.

Literary and Political Significance - Verse Form: Written in heroic couplets (rhymed iambic pentameter), showcasing Dryden’s mastery of poetic form. - Satire and Propaganda: The poem blends biting satire with political loyalty, making it a powerful piece of royalist propaganda. - Public Impact: Widely read and debated, it shaped public opinion during the Exclusion Crisis.

- Absalom and Achitophel is not just a poem—it’s a political intervention. - Understanding the historical context reveals Dryden’s rhetorical strategies and allegorical depth. - The poem exemplifies how literature can serve ideological functions while maintaining artistic excellence.

John Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel stands as one of the most celebrated political satires of the Restoration era. Written in 1681, the poem employs heroic couplets to weave a complex allegory based on the biblical story of King David, his son Absalom, and the traitorous counselor Achitophel. Dryden uses these figures to personify key actors in late seventeenth-century English politics, transforming real-life disputes over succession and religion into a dramatic narrative. As both a work of art and a piece of royalist propaganda, it showcases Dryden’s mastery of poetic form and his deep engagement with the political currents of his time.

The turbulent events following the English Civil War set the stage for Dryden’s satire. After Oliver Cromwell’s death in 1658 and the collapse of the Protectorate, the monarchy was restored in 1660 with Charles II ascending the throne. This Restoration brought a revival of the arts and a renewed struggle over religious and political authority. While royalists celebrated the return of the king, many Protestants feared a resurgence of Catholic influence. These tensions erupted into what became known as the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681). The central question was whether James, Duke of York and brother to Charles II, should be allowed to inherit the crown given his Catholic faith. Political factions split into Whigs, who championed exclusion to protect Protestant liberties, and Tories, who defended the hereditary principle and the divine right of kings. Dryden, firmly in the Tory camp, composed Absalom and Achitophel to warn against rebellion and to rally support for Charles II’s lineage. In crafting his allegory, Dryden drew clear parallels: Absalom represents the Duke of Monmouth, Charles II’s popular but illegitimate son; Achitophel mirrors Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, the Whig leader who orchestrated the Exclusion movement. By casting these figures in biblical roles, Dryden elevated contemporary debates into timeless moral drama, urging his readers to recognize the dangers of factionalism and the virtues of loyalty to lawful authority.

GLOSSARY

Catholicism is a branch of Christianity that recognizes the pope in Rome as its spiritual head and emphasizes church traditions and rituals—called sacraments—such as baptism, communion, and confession. Catholics believe that salvation comes through a combination of faith in God, participation in these sacraments, and moral good works guided by the Church. In 17th-century England, Catholics were a small minority often associated with support for strong royal authority and papal influence, which made many Protestants uneasy. This tension between Catholic loyalty to monarchy and Protestant demands for parliamentary power provides crucial background for Dryden’s satire Absalom, where questions of faith and political allegiance fuel the poem’s critique of rebellion and authority.