Understanding Dryden’s Satire in Absalom and Achitophel: An Introduction

John Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel transforms a biblical revolt into a sharp commentary on Restoration politics. By casting real historical figures as Old Testament characters, Dryden exposes the ambitions and follies of his contemporaries.

Historical Context King Charles II ruled England after the turmoil of civil war and the Protectorate. Fearing a Catholic succession, the Whig party—led by the Earl of Shaftesbury—sought to undermine the king’s decision to name his brother James as heir. In response, Dryden, as Poet Laureate and a Tory loyalist, penned Absalom and Achitophel in 1681 to defend the crown. Dryden borrowed the story of Absalom’s revolt against King David and the scheming politician Achitophel to mirror the Monmouth rebellion and Shaftesbury’s intrigues. By framing current events as an epic allegory, he elevated a partisan pamphlet into a work of enduring literary power.

Dryden’s satire operates on two levels: - A direct allegory where Absalom represents the Duke of Monmouth and Achitophel stands for Shaftesbury. - A broader mock-epic tone that ridicules political posturing and misplaced loyalty. He uses heroic couplets—pairs of rhyming iambic pentameter lines—to underscore the contrast between lofty epic style and the pettiness of political scheming. This tension generates much of the poem’s wit.

Key Characters and Their Counterparts - Absalom: The handsome but misguided rebel, echoing Monmouth’s charisma and ambition. - Achitophel: The manipulative counsellor who fans the flames of dissent, reflecting Shaftesbury’s political cunning. - King David: The wise yet challenged monarch, standing in for Charles II and his struggle to maintain order. Through these parallels, Dryden invites readers to judge real figures by the standards of the biblical archetypes, making the satire both pointed and memorable.

Major Themes of Satire - The danger of flattery: Achitophel’s skill in cajoling Absalom shows how praise can become a tool of manipulation. - The folly of rebellion: Absalom’s revolt is portrayed as misguided idealism founded on selfish ambition. - The value of order: Dryden champions stability and rightful authority, reflecting Tory ideals of hierarchy and tradition. These themes resonate beyond their historical moment, reminding readers of timeless political risks and the human weaknesses that fuel them.

Dryden combines classical allusions, biblical diction, and everyday speech to create a rich, layered texture. His epigrammatic wit—brief, sharp observations—anticipates modern stand-up comedy in its incisiveness. The poem’s blend of epic grandeur and colloquial flair helped cement Dryden’s reputation as England’s leading poet of the Restoration era.

Absalom and Achitophel remains a masterclass in using allegory to critique power. It shows how poetic form can both entertain and persuade, shaping public opinion through humor and rhetorical skill. For modern readers, the poem offers lessons in: - Recognizing political messaging hidden beneath literary ornament - Appreciating the craft of verse satire - Understanding how historical events can be reframed to speak to universal human themes

Comparing Dryden and Juvenal Dryden read and translated Juvenal, but he did not copy him word for word. Juvenal’s satires speak directly about Roman society using clear, sometimes harsh language. Dryden kept Juvenal’s sharp eye for human flaws but wrapped his criticism in a mock-epic form. He borrowed the grand style of epic poems—like heroic couplets—to poke fun at political figures in England.

Key differences:

- Historical focus: Juvenal wrote about Roman citizens and customs while Dryden targeted Restoration politicians.

- Style: Juvenal used prose-like Latin verse; Dryden used polished English couplets.

- Tone: Juvenal’s voice is blunt and moralizing; Dryden’s is polished and witty with heroic flourishes.

How Swift and Pope Built on Dryden

Dryden’s mock-epic showed writers how to blend grand form with satire. Swift and Pope admired this mix of high style and low subject matter.

Jonathan Swift used epic-style narration in Gulliver’s Travels to expose human follies through fictional lands. Alexander Pope wrote The Rape of the Lock in heroic couplets, treating a trivial social squabble as if it were an epic war.

- Swift introduced fantasy worlds to distance readers from real politics. - Pope refined the mock-heroic tone with precise, witty lines. - Both sharpened Dryden’s model by adding deeper irony and richer character detail.

Satire still thrives in cartoons, late-night shows, and online sketches. See the links between classic verse and today’s media.