Absalom and Achitophel (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: John Dryden
- First Published: 1681
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Satire
- Time of Work: Late seventeenth century
- Setting: London, England
- Genres: Satire, Poetry, Lyric sequence, Mock-heroic poetry
- Subjects: England or English people, Seventeenth century, Kings, queens, or royalty, Biblical times, Israel or Israelis, Jews and Gentiles, Heads of state, Monarchy
- Locales: London, England, Jerusalem
Characters Discussed
David, the king of Israel, a poetic representation of Charles II, king of England. Many dissatisfied Jews (Whigs) wish to rebel against him and secure the succession of his illegitimate son, Absalom (the duke of Monmouth), to the throne. The wiser Jews (Tories) see no cause for revolt against a just ruler.
Absalom, the illegitimate son of David, king of Israel, and a poetic representation of the duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of Charles II, king of England. The dissident Jews (Whigs) seek to make him heir to his father’s throne.
...[The entire page is 516 words long]
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