Absolom and Achitophel by John Drayden

Thinking Activity

Absolom and Achitophel by John Dryden

 This blog is a thinking activity task assigned by dr.Barad sir, English Department, mkbu. In this blog i'm going to point out some important things which are described in this task.

Introduction-

Absalom and achitophel is a poem written by John Drayden, and published in 1681. This poem is written in heroic couplets.

Dryden himself is considered a father of the modern essay.

His essay " A discourse concerning the origin and progress of satire, where he writes a history of satire.

This satire written in heroic couplet and Heroic couplet is a couplet rhyming iambic pentameters as well as metrical unit. Drayden based his work on a biblical incident recorded in 2 Samuel 13-19. This story is related to the king's David's most favourite son Absolom and  his false friend Achitophel, and in this story Achitophel persuades Absolom to revolt against his father, here Drayden assigns each finger in the biblical name.

And when we see the second part of this novel is largely composed of nahum tales.

Here first of all we have to understand "what is satire" and what is "political satire" ?

According to cambridge dictionary-

" A way of criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order to make a political point, or a piece of writing that uses this style.

Political satire is -

"Political satire is satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly forbidden."

Here we can say that political satire aims at behaviour, manners of politicians, and vices of political systems. Almost all of the two definitions are the same . The first is "what is satire ?" and "what is political satire ?"are the same. Each definition connects with political points.

Here is a chart of allegorical characters and on other side there is real political figures which are allegorised by dryden

What sort of general impression of this sort of literature (i.e. political satire) do you get when you read it.

When I read "Absalom and Achitophel" I receive many aspects of political satire. This poem is acknowledged as the finest political satire in the English language. Absalom and Achitophel have inspired a great deal of discussion regarding satire.

Absalom was the favorite son of king david. His character contains certain flaws, and Absolom distinguished himself in royal service, but then he was corrupted by ambitions. Achitophel tricked Absolom that  he should seize power of the king, at first Absolol denied, but after that he agreed to seize his fathers power.

There were many ways to understand Dryden's poem "Absalom and Achitophel ".  First of all there were "The connections between fatherhood and kingship " and also another way of reading this satire is through a "mother plot". In this poem the relationship of fatherhood and kingship is united.

On the other hand, Susan Greenfield is an important part of this poem. In this poem the blame is transferred to females, by saying that only the female power of life threatens the political order, and it is female desires and her ability to create life that the whole mess is created.

"Absalom and Achitophel" as political satire-

Basically Satire is a form of literature, the main purpose of satire  is to reform human weaknesses or vices through laughter or disgust. 

The aim of satire is generally constructive, and need not arise from cynicism or misanthropy. The satirist applies the test of certain ethical, intellectual and social standards to men and women. Satire naturally has a wide range; it can involve an attack on the vices of an age, or the defects of an individual or the follies common to the very species of mankind.

                                                 

Absalom and Achitophel is a landmark political satire by John Dryden. Dryden marks his satire with a concentrated and convincing poetic style. His satiric verse is majestic, what

Pope calls: 

“The long majestic march and energy divine”. 

 Critics have unanimously remarked on Dryden’s capacity to transform the trivial into the poetical; personal envy into the fury of imaginative creation. The obscure and the complicated is made clear and simple. All this transforming power is to be seen at the very beginning of Absalom and Achitophel.

The state of ‘Israel’ is easy to understand and yet Dryden shows himself a master both of the Horatian and the Juvenalian styles of Satire.

Absalom and Achitophel is basically a Political Satire:

                                                               

 Basically Dryden called Absalom and Achitophel ‘a poem’ and not a satire, to add  that it had elements other than purely satirical. One cannot, for instance, ignore the obvious epic or heroic touches in it. All the same, the poem originated in the political situation of England at the time and one cannot fail to note that several political personalities are satirized in it. 

This satire was Published in  November 1681, the theme was suggested by the king to Dryden. At this time, the question of succession to King Charles had assumed great importance. The Earl of Shaftesbury had been thrown into prison to face a charge of high treason. There were two contenders for the succession. Firstly, Charles’ brother James, Duke of York, a known Roman Catholic; the second contender was Charles’ illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth. The Whigs supported Monmouth while the Tories supported the cause of James in order to ensure stability in the country. There was great public unrest on account of the uncertainty of succession. King Charles II saw to it that the Exclusion bill brought before Parliament, to exclude the succession of his brother James, could not be pushed through. The earl of Shaftesbury, a highly ambitious man, sought to capitalize on this unrest. 

 

The aim of Dryden in  Absalom and Achitophel-

                                                                        The aim of Dryden was to support the King and to expose his enemies. Of course, Charles had his own weaknesses; he was extremely fond of women. But Dryden puts a charitable mantel over his sexual sins. He is mild in dealing with his real vices. The king himself did not think unfavourably of his love affairs. Sexual licence was the order of the age and as such, it did not deserve condemnation. Dryden has nothing but praise for the king’s moderation in political matters and his leniency towards rebels. Dryden’s lash falls on the King’s enemies, particularly the Earl of Shaftesbury. 

 

How Political Satire Cast in Biblical Mould ?

    

                                                            

Dryden chose the well known Biblical story of Absalom revolting against his father David, at the wicked instigation of Achitophel, in order to satirise the contemporary political situation. The choice of a Biblical allegory is not original on dryden’s part, but his general treatment of the subject is beyond comparison, as Courthope points out. But all the while Dryden takes care to see that the political satire in not lost in the confusion of a too intricate Biblical parallelism. The advantage of setting the story in pre-Christian times is obvious as it gave Dryden had at once to praise the King and satirise the King’s opponents. To discredit the opponents he had to emphasize on Monmouth’s illegitimacy, but at the same time he had to see that Charles (who was Monmouth’s father) was not adversely affected by his criticism. He could not openly condone Charles’ loose morals; at the same time, he could not openly criticise it either. With a masterly touch he sets the poem :

 

                         

“In pious times are priestcraft did begin

 Before polygamy was made a sin;

When man on multiplied his kin

 Here one to one was cursedly confined ....”

 

Here Drayden begins his poem mentioning pious times, that  it was a pious time when men have multiple choices of wivies, and they have many children by their wives. Dryden is obviously laughing up his sleeve at Charles himself. He indirectly makes a satire on David's character.

In indian literature there were also many political satire written, for examples like-

• The courtesn's keeper by kshemendra
• munnu- A boy from kashmir by malik sajad
• The ugli kashmiri by Arvind Gigoo
• shashi tharoor's "The Great indian novel" 

"The courtesan's keeper" is One of Kshemendra's finest satires, this book shows life the vibrant society of Kashmir Valley a thousand years ago through a host of characters, each drawn in vivid detail.  

Conclusion:

               

Dryden is regarded as the most vigorous and polished of English satirists combining refinement with fervor. Dryden triumphed over the peculiar difficulties of his chosen theme. He had to give, not abuse or politics, but the poetry of abuse and politics. He had to criticise a son whom the father still liked; he had to make Shaftesbury denounce the King but he had to see to it that the King’s susceptibilities were not wounded. He had to praise without sounding servile and he had to criticize artistically. 

Dryden achieves all this cleverly and skilfully. The poem is certainly a political satire, but it is a blend of dignity with incisive and effective satire.

  Here i ambeded videos of "Absolom and Achitophel " poem stydy.

                                                                     

Thank you.