Wit, Satire, and Monarchy in Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel
This blog, assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad, discusses John Dryden’s political satire Absalom and Achitophel. Written during the Exclusion Crisis, the poem retells the Biblical story of Absalom’s rebellion against King David as an allegory for 17th-century English politics.
King David represents Charles II, Absalom is the Duke of Monmouth, and Achitophel symbolizes the Earl of Shaftesbury. The main theme centers on ambition, betrayal, and the conflict between loyalty to authority and the lure of power. Achitophel tempts Absalom to claim the throne, reflecting how personal ambition can lead to political instability.
Blending biblical narrative with satire, Dryden presents a timeless warning against rebellion and manipulative politics, making Absalom and Achitophel both a classic poem and a political commentary.
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Here is the detailed Discription of the Absalom and Achitophel
Absalom and Achitophel as a Political Satire
John Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel (1681) is one of the greatest political satires in English literature. Written in response to the Exclusion Crisis, the poem is an allegory that transforms Biblical characters into representations of contemporary English political figures.
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Biblical story vs. Political reality:
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Absalom (King David’s rebellious son) = Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate but popular son of King Charles II.
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Achitophel (the cunning advisor) = Earl of Shaftesbury, who incited rebellion and pushed the Exclusion Bill to prevent James, Duke of York (a Catholic), from inheriting the throne.
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King David = King Charles II himself.
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Dryden cleverly used the biblical framework to criticize political conspirators while praising the King’s wisdom and moderation. The satire is biting but controlled, exposing ambition, hypocrisy, and manipulation in politics.
As a Heroic Couplet
The poem is composed in heroic couplets—pairs of rhymed iambic pentameter lines. This was Dryden’s signature style, giving the poem clarity, rhythm, and force. The heroic couplet allowed him to:
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Present argument with precision.
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Add wit and satire through balanced lines.
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Make political commentary sound majestic and authoritative.
Example of a heroic couplet (from the poem):
“Plots, true or false, are necessary things,
To raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.”
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Each line has ten syllables (iambic pentameter).
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The rhyme (“things / kings”) ties the thought together.
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The balance of opposites—“raise up commonwealths” vs. “ruin kings”—shows Dryden’s satirical sharpness.
Explaining the Verse
This verse means that plots and conspiracies—whether real or fabricated—are always useful tools in politics.
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For ambitious politicians, false plots can stir up fear and justify rebellion.
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For rulers, real or imagined plots can be used to consolidate power and suppress opposition.
Thus, Dryden highlights the dangerous cycle of political intrigue where both sides exploit “plots” for their advantage.
1. It Is Satire (Mocking Politics Through Allegory)
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Dryden uses Biblical allegory to mock real political figures of his time.
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Absalom = Duke of Monmouth (rebellious illegitimate son).
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Achitophel = Earl of Shaftesbury (ambitious, cunning advisor).
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King David = King Charles II (wise but indulgent monarch).
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By disguising real people as Biblical characters, Dryden could safely criticize them while also elevating his satire.
Verse satire aims to correct vice, folly, or political corruption through ridicule.
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Dryden does this by:
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Exposing the ambition of Monmouth/Absalom.
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Ridiculing Shaftesbury/Achitophel’s manipulation and cunning.
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Praising Charles II’s wisdom while warning against rebellion.
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Satirical edge example:
“A daring pilot in extremity;
Pleased with the danger, when the waves went high.”
Dryden describes Shaftesbury (Achitophel) as someone who thrives in chaos, mocking him for loving danger because it suits his ambition.
2. The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel
While John Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel (1681) is considered the masterpiece of political verse satire, a second part was published in 1682. This continuation was largely written by Nahum Tate, a poet and Dryden’s contemporary, but it also included about 200 lines by Dryden himself.
Dryden’s contribution to this second part is especially significant because here he turns his satirical energy not only toward political figures but also against his literary rivals. These lines show his sharp wit and mastery of the heroic couplet, as he mocks other poets and critics who had opposed him. Thus, while the first part is more focused on political allegory, the second part widens the scope, blending literary satire with the ongoing political narrative.
In short, the second part keeps alive the spirit of Dryden’s original poem but also reflects the personal battles of a writer who defended both his king and his own literary reputation through the powerful medium of verse satire.
3. Themes in Absalom and Achitophel
1. Political Themes: The Struggle for Power
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At its heart, the poem reflects the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681), where Whigs wanted to exclude James, Duke of York (a Catholic), from succeeding King Charles II.
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Dryden shows how politicians exploit ambition and popular support to destabilize monarchy.
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Absalom (Monmouth) becomes a symbol of misplaced ambition—an illegitimate son whose popularity tempts him to rebel against his father, King David (Charles II).
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Achitophel (Shaftesbury) embodies political cunning: manipulating Absalom, stirring unrest, and trying to topple the monarchy for his own gain.
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The poem satirizes how political plots and propaganda can endanger the stability of a kingdom.
2. Religious Themes: Protestant vs. Catholic Tensions
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Religion was central to the Exclusion Crisis—fear of a Catholic monarch succeeding to the English throne.
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Achitophel and his followers exploit these anti-Catholic fears to rally people against the king’s lawful heir.
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Dryden warns against using religion as a political weapon, showing how it fuels division rather than unity.
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King David/Charles is presented as a tolerant ruler, while the rebels are shown as fanatics cloaking ambition under religion.
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Thus, the poem critiques how religious prejudice and sectarianism can destabilize society when manipulated by political leaders.
3. Themes of Power, Authority, and Loyalty
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The central conflict is about legitimate vs. illegitimate power.
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King David/Charles represents the lawful monarch chosen by God.
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Absalom/Monmouth, though loved by the people, has no rightful claim to the throne.
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Dryden emphasizes that true power lies in lawful succession and divine authority, not in popular opinion or political scheming.
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The poem explores loyalty vs. betrayal:
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David (Charles) is forgiving and indulgent toward Absalom.
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Achitophel (Shaftesbury) is treacherous, betraying king and country alike for personal gain.
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In the end, Dryden argues for loyalty to the king and stability of monarchy as the safeguard against chaos.
4.The Allegory of Absalom, David, and Achitophel
Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel is built on a biblical allegory drawn from the Old Testament story of King David, his rebellious son Absalom, and the cunning counselor Achitophel. Dryden retells this story but disguises real political figures of 17th-century England within it.
1. David = King Charles II
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In the Bible, King David is a wise, indulgent ruler.
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In the allegory, he represents King Charles II of England, who was known for his political tolerance and his many illegitimate children.
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Just as David loves Absalom despite his rebellion, Charles shows patience and forgiveness toward his ambitious son, the Duke of Monmouth.
2. Absalom = James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
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In the Bible, Absalom is David’s handsome and beloved illegitimate son, who wins the people’s hearts and is persuaded to rebel against his father.
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In the allegory, Absalom stands for the Duke of Monmouth, Charles II’s illegitimate but popular son.
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Monmouth was encouraged by Whigs to press a claim to the throne, even though he was legally barred.
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Absalom/Monmouth symbolizes youthful ambition and misplaced trust in flatterers.
3. Achitophel = Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury
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In the Bible, Achitophel is a cunning advisor who persuades Absalom to rebel and betray his father.
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In the allegory, he represents Shaftesbury, leader of the Whigs during the Exclusion Crisis.
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Shaftesbury was the mastermind behind the plan to exclude Charles’s brother James (a Catholic) from succession and promote Monmouth instead.
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Dryden paints him as the embodiment of political cunning, manipulation, and treachery—a man who thrives in chaos.
The Bigger Picture
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Through this allegory, Dryden defends monarchy and legitimate succession.
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He warns that ambition (Absalom/Monmouth) and manipulation (Achitophel/Shaftesbury), if unchecked, can endanger the peace of the realm.
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The biblical frame allows Dryden to attack real people with wit and power while making his defense of Charles II seem timeless and moral.
4. Historical and Political Context of Absalom and Achitophel
Dryden’s poem cannot be fully understood without the turbulent political background of late 17th-century England. Three major events frame the poem’s allegory:
1. The Popish Plot (1678)
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A false conspiracy invented by Titus Oates, claiming that Catholics planned to assassinate King Charles II to put his Catholic brother, James, Duke of York, on the throne.
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This created widespread anti-Catholic hysteria, leading to executions and deep mistrust of Catholics.
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Politicians, like Shaftesbury (Achitophel), used this fear to weaken royal authority and push for excluding James from succession.
2. The Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681)
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A direct result of the Popish Plot.
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The Whigs, led by Shaftesbury, tried to pass the Exclusion Bill, which would have prevented James, Duke of York, from inheriting the throne because of his Catholic faith.
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To replace him, they supported the Duke of Monmouth (Charles II’s illegitimate son), claiming his popularity and Protestant background made him fit to rule.
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Charles II dissolved Parliament several times to block the Exclusion Bill.
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Dryden wrote Absalom and Achitophel (1681) as a royalist defense of the king, attacking Shaftesbury and warning Monmouth against rebellion.
3. The Monmouth Rebellion (1685)
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After Charles II’s death, his brother James II became king.
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Monmouth (Absalom in the poem), encouraged by his past supporters, declared himself king and launched a rebellion.
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The rebellion failed, and Monmouth was captured and executed.
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This tragic ending confirmed Dryden’s warning in Absalom and Achitophel about the danger of misplaced ambition and manipulation by false advisors.
5. Key Figures in Absalom and Achitophel (Biblical & Real)
Dryden’s poem works as a double-layered allegory, where biblical characters are mapped onto real historical figures of 17th-century England.
1. David = King Charles II
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Biblical role: King David, a wise but indulgent ruler, whose beloved son Absalom is tempted into rebellion.
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Historical counterpart: King Charles II of England. Like David, he was forgiving, politically cautious, and the father of many illegitimate children.
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Significance: Represents the legitimate monarch, patient yet vulnerable to betrayal from his own bloodline.
2. Absalom = James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
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Biblical role: Absalom, David’s handsome and popular illegitimate son, who rebels against his father.
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Historical counterpart: Monmouth, Charles II’s illegitimate but Protestant son, celebrated for his charm and military reputation.
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Significance: Symbol of youthful ambition and popular support, misled by cunning advisors into pursuing a throne he could never legally inherit.
3. Achitophel = Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury
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Biblical role: Achitophel, the scheming counselor who persuades Absalom to rise against David.
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Historical counterpart: Shaftesbury, leader of the Whigs, mastermind of the Exclusion Crisis, and fierce opponent of Catholic succession.
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Significance: Embodiment of political cunning, manipulation, and treachery—a dangerous figure who thrives on instability.
4. James, Duke of York
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Not allegorized in the poem directly, but central to the political context.
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Brother of Charles II and heir to the throne, he had converted to Catholicism, sparking the Exclusion Crisis.
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His presence in the succession crisis fuels Shaftesbury’s campaign to push Monmouth forward as an alternative Protestant heir.
5. Lucy Walter
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Historical figure: The mother of Monmouth and one of Charles II’s mistresses.
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Though absent from the biblical allegory, she was used by Monmouth’s supporters to spread the rumor that she had secretly married Charles—thus making Monmouth a legitimate heir.
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Significance: Represents how personal scandal was weaponized for political gain.
6. Catherine of Braganza
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Historical figure: The Portuguese Catholic queen and lawful wife of Charles II.
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She bore no children, which created a succession crisis, as the throne would naturally pass to Charles’s Catholic brother James.
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In the allegorical frame, she mirrors David’s lawful queenship, standing in contrast to the illegitimate line of Absalom/Monmouth.
6. Political Motivation Behind Absalom and Achitophel
The poem is deeply rooted in the political struggles of late 17th-century England, especially the Exclusion Crisis. Dryden uses biblical allegory not just as a literary device but as a way to take a firm political stance.
1. To Bar James, Duke of York, from Succession
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James, the brother of Charles II, was a Roman Catholic convert.
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The Whigs, led by Shaftesbury (Achitophel), feared that if James became king, England would fall under Catholic influence.
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Their primary political aim was to exclude James from the line of succession through the Exclusion Bill.
2. To Favour the Duke of Monmouth
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As an alternative, the Whigs promoted James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, Charles II’s illegitimate but Protestant son.
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Monmouth was popular with the people and seen as a Protestant champion.
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Shaftesbury encouraged the belief that Monmouth had a rightful claim to the throne, even though legally illegitimate.
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In the allegory, Monmouth appears as Absalom, the charming but misguided son persuaded into rebellion.
3. Dryden’s Aim: To Preserve the Duke of York’s Position
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Dryden, a loyal supporter of monarchy, wrote Absalom and Achitophel in defense of Charles II’s decision to maintain James as his heir.
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His satire attacks Shaftesbury and warns Monmouth against rebellion, arguing that legitimate succession must be respected, regardless of religion.
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By casting Charles II as David, Monmouth as Absalom, and Shaftesbury as Achitophel, Dryden presents loyalty to monarchy as a divine and moral duty, while rebellion is shown as dangerous ambition.
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