Jan 3, 2010

Absalom and Achitophel | Absalom and Achitophel

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.

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Absalom and Achitophel | Absalom and Achitophel

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

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