Absalom and Achitophel: Politics, Poetry, and Power in Restoration England
The task, as assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad Sir , is to analyze John Dryden's 'Absalom and Achitophel' based on the worksheet.
Introduction:
Poetry as Politics in Restoration England
In an age where monarchs ruled not only by blood but by divine right, and where religion could spark both revival and rebellion, poetry found a strange new role—not just to please, but to persuade. One of the greatest testaments to this power is John Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, first published in 1681.
Dryden’s poem is not merely a literary artifact. It is a weapon of political warfare, cloaked in verse. Written in heroic couplets and masterfully satirical, Absalom and Achitophel reimagines a deeply divisive moment in English history—the Exclusion Crisis—through a biblical lens. In doing so, Dryden crafted a work that was timely in its message, timeless in its artistry, and groundbreaking in its blending of politics, poetry, and allegory.
Though the names may sound ancient—David, Absalom, Achitophel—the poem’s stakes are real and immediate: who will inherit the English throne, and what happens when ambition challenges loyalty?
Let’s explore the rich historical context, complex allegory, biting satire, and enduring themes of Absalom and Achitophel, a poem that remains a shining example of literature’s power to reflect and shape political realities.
The Political Landscape: A Nation on the Brink
To understand Absalom and Achitophel, we must journey back to late 17th-century England, a nation simmering with unrest.
The Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681)
This was the central political issue of the time and the spark behind Dryden’s poem. After decades of civil war, regicide, and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, England remained deeply anxious about its rulers. A key concern was the religion of James, Duke of York—the younger brother and designated heir of King Charles II—who had converted to Roman Catholicism.
Fearing a return to Catholic rule, many members of Parliament sought to exclude James from the succession altogether. This move was controversial, even revolutionary, challenging the hereditary principle on which monarchy depended. The political divide gave rise to two major political factions: the Whigs (who supported exclusion) and the Tories (who opposed it). Dryden aligned firmly with the Tories.
The Popish Plot (1678)
Just before the Exclusion Crisis, England was gripped by hysteria following the so-called Popish Plot. This fabricated conspiracy, concocted by Titus Oates, claimed that Catholics were planning to assassinate Charles II and place James on the throne. Though baseless, it led to the execution of dozens of innocents and further inflamed anti-Catholic sentiment.
Dryden weaves references to this paranoia into the poem, exposing the dangers of mass hysteria and political manipulation.
The Monmouth Rebellion (1685)
Although this event occurred four years after the poem’s first publication, it serves as a real-world fulfillment of the poem’s dramatic tensions. James Scott, Duke of Monmouth—Charles II’s illegitimate but Protestant son—led a rebellion against James II, ultimately failing and being executed. Dryden had already foreshadowed this in Absalom and Achitophel, portraying Monmouth (Absalom) as a beloved figure misguided by bad counsel.
Dryden’s Political Agenda
As Poet Laureate and a committed royalist, Dryden wrote not just as an artist but as a loyalist. Absalom and Achitophel was composed during the peak of the Exclusion Crisis, as a literary intervention against those seeking to undermine the monarchy. His message was clear: monarchy must be preserved, and rebellion—no matter how charismatic its leaders—is a threat to divine and national order.
Biblical Parallels: Ancient Scripture Meets Modern Scandal
At the heart of Absalom and Achitophel is a powerful allegorical framework, based on a biblical story from 2 Samuel 13–19.
The Biblical Narrative
In the Old Testament, King David faces betrayal from his beloved son Absalom, who—encouraged by the cunning Achitophel—rebels against him. Absalom’s revolt fails, leading to his tragic death and David’s grief.
Dryden saw in this story a perfect metaphor for the events unfolding around him.
The Allegorical Assignments
Dryden maps real-life political figures onto these biblical roles:
David = King Charles II: A wise, aging monarch facing rebellion but ultimately remaining dignified and merciful.
Absalom = James Scott, Duke of Monmouth: The charismatic and popular illegitimate son, beloved by the people but drawn into political revolt.
Achitophel = Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury: The political mastermind behind the Exclusion Bill, portrayed as a manipulative villain.
Dryden’s use of allegory allowed him to comment directly on contemporary figures while maintaining a protective distance through biblical analogy. It also allowed him to elevate the political debate into a moral and even spiritual dimension.
Character Studies: From Page to Power Struggle
Absalom / Monmouth
Dryden portrays Absalom with a mix of admiration and regret. He is handsome, beloved, and persuasive—but ultimately led astray. His illegitimacy becomes a central point of contention. There were rumors that Charles II had secretly married Monmouth’s mother, Lucy Walter, but no legal proof existed. The ambiguity of his status mirrors his moral wavering in the poem.
Dryden’s Absalom is not a villain, but a tragic figure—a warning about the seductive power of ambition.
Achitophel / Shaftesbury
In contrast, Achitophel is sharply drawn as the poem’s true antagonist. He is cunning, persuasive, and politically shrewd. Dryden skewers his ambition, suggesting that he uses Absalom as a puppet to achieve his own ends. The character reflects public anxieties about Shaftesbury’s role in inciting division and manipulating the masses.
David / Charles II
David is presented with great sympathy: patient, forbearing, wise. While this portrayal is idealized—Charles II was politically astute and not always so magnanimous—it serves Dryden’s goal of depicting the king as a God-ordained ruler whose legitimacy must not be questioned.
Underlying Themes: Timeless Messages in Timely Verse
Politics, Allegory, and Satire
At its core, Absalom and Achitophel is a masterclass in political satire. Dryden doesn’t just poke fun—he indicts. His language is biting but elegant, his rhyming couplets tightly structured yet brimming with rhetorical force. By turning political foes into biblical traitors, he not only criticizes them but moralizes their actions.
God, Religion, and the Divine Right of Kings
The poem’s religious undertones are crucial. By casting Charles II as David, Dryden connects the English monarchy to divine authority. The message is clear: to rebel against the king is to rebel against God’s will. This theme reinforces the ideological foundation of monarchy in the Restoration era.
Power and Ambition
Dryden explores how ambition—when unchecked—can become dangerous. Achitophel’s lust for power corrupts his wisdom, and Absalom’s desire for glory leads to his fall. The poem serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of valuing popularity and power over loyalty and law.
Genre and Literary Legacy: Verse as Political Weapon
Absalom and Achitophel is one of the finest examples of verse satire in English literature. Written in heroic couplets—pairs of rhymed iambic pentameter lines—the poem is both rhythmically compelling and stylistically sharp. Dryden’s wit, balance, and clarity of expression set a new standard for political poetry.
A second part, published in 1682, was primarily written by Nahum Tate, though it included about 200 lines by Dryden—specifically targeting his literary rivals. This continuation underscores how the poem was not a one-time act, but part of an ongoing literary-political campaign.
The poem’s influence can be seen in later satirists, notably Alexander Pope, whose The Dunciad echoes Dryden’s approach. It also remains a rich subject for academic study, offering insights into Restoration politics, poetic form, and the function of allegory.
Conclusion: Why Absalom and Achitophel Still Matters
Over three centuries later, Absalom and Achitophel continues to captivate readers not just for its historical significance, but for its poetic brilliance and moral complexity.
In an age where the line between politics and performance remains blurred, and where leaders are often judged by popularity rather than principle, Dryden’s poem feels surprisingly modern. It reminds us that ambition can be blinding, that loyalty has a cost, and that poetry—far from being a passive art—can be a formidable force in shaping public opinion.
Dryden once wrote, “Happy the people whose affairs are debated in verse.” With Absalom and Achitophel, he gave England not just a poem, but a mirror—reflecting both its grandeur and its fragility.
Reference:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44172/absalom-and-achitophel
