John Dryden
A detailed critical appreciation of Lines 543-68 of Dryden’s poem Absalom and Achitophel, considering the characteristics of Dryden as a poet.
This passage of Dryden’s 1681 satirical and allegorical poem, Absalom and Achitophel, offers a detailed description of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham coded as Zimri. It is important to have an understanding of the political context of this passage in order to fully appreciate Dryden’s biting satire.
Buckingham was a powerful political statesman and sometime close ally of King Charles II (David, for the purposes of Dryden’s poem) whose tenure of office was chiefly marked by scandal and intrigue. Buckingham’s illicit connection with the Countess of Shrewsbury led to a duel with her husband in 1668, in which the Earl of Shrewsbury (coded in this poem as Achitophel) was fatally wounded. The tale that the countess witnessed the encounter disguised as a page appears to have no foundation; but Buckingham provoked an outrage when he installed the "widow of his own creation" in his house.
Buckingham took an active part in prosecuting those implicated in the Popish Plot, and accused the lord chief justice of favouring the Roman Catholics. A writ was issued for Buckingham’s arrest, but it was never served. He promoted the return of Whig candidates to Parliament and constituted himself the champion of the dissenters. Buckingham, however, separated himself from the Whigs on the exclusion question, probably on account of his dislike of the Duke of Monmouth (Absalom) and the Earl of Shaftesbury. He was, however, later restored to the king’s favour.
What is clear from the verbal vitality of this passage is that Dryden, as a staunch supporter of Charles II and therefore anti Whig supporter, is launching a scathing attack of Buckingham using typcial Drydenion ironic verbal detail. Dryden held a firm conviction in the sacredness of royalty. To rebel against one’s ruler would be seen as tantamount to rebelling against God. Using
This passage of Dryden’s 1681 satirical and allegorical poem, Absalom and Achitophel, offers a detailed description of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham coded as Zimri. It is important to have an understanding of the political context of this passage in order to fully appreciate Dryden’s biting satire.
Buckingham was a powerful political statesman and sometime close ally of King Charles II (David, for the purposes of Dryden’s poem) whose tenure of office was chiefly marked by scandal and intrigue. Buckingham’s illicit connection with the Countess of Shrewsbury led to a duel with her husband in 1668, in which the Earl of Shrewsbury (coded in this poem as Achitophel) was fatally wounded. The tale that the countess witnessed the encounter disguised as a page appears to have no foundation; but Buckingham provoked an outrage when he installed the "widow of his own creation" in his house.
Buckingham took an active part in prosecuting those implicated in the Popish Plot, and accused the lord chief justice of favouring the Roman Catholics. A writ was issued for Buckingham’s arrest, but it was never served. He promoted the return of Whig candidates to Parliament and constituted himself the champion of the dissenters. Buckingham, however, separated himself from the Whigs on the exclusion question, probably on account of his dislike of the Duke of Monmouth (Absalom) and the Earl of Shaftesbury. He was, however, later restored to the king’s favour.
What is clear from the verbal vitality of this passage is that Dryden, as a staunch supporter of Charles II and therefore anti Whig supporter, is launching a scathing attack of Buckingham using typcial Drydenion ironic verbal detail. Dryden held a firm conviction in the sacredness of royalty. To rebel against one’s ruler would be seen as tantamount to rebelling against God. Using