Absalom and Achitophel (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: John Dryden
- First Published: 1681
- Type of Work: Satiric Poetry
- 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
The poem opens with a depiction of the Jews beset by fears and rumors of plots against King David by a discredited sect. Achitophel, leader of the king’s opponents, inflames the crowd against their monarch with a view toward replacing the rightful heir with Absalom, the king’s illegitimate son. Though reluctant to challenge David, who insists on the succession by established tradition, Absalom finds the attention and the prospect of power appealing and leaves the capital to gather support among the people.
After a lengthy discussion urging avoidance of extremes in government,...
[The entire page is 555 words long]
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