Absalom

In “Absalom and Achitophel,” John Dryden portrays Absalom as the son of King David. Because of his illegitimate status, Absalom has no claim to the throne. He knows this well and realizes that his father has given him everything he could desire—everything except for the crown. 

Absalom is a “beautiful” and “brave” young man, renowned for his military accomplishments and generally charming and pleasing. He is also extremely popular with the people and much loved by his father.

However, Absalom has a major weakness: He is easily manipulated. The cunning Achitophel appeals to the young man’s ambition, planting ideas about rebellion into Absalom's head. Absalom quickly falls under the sway of the people, as he loves to be the center of attention. Flattery works wonders with him; as he travels around speaking to cheering crowds, Achitophel flatters him to the very point of treason against his father. Absalom is not malicious in himself, but he is far from steadfast in his moral convictions, especially in the face of popularity.

In the historical allegory backgrounding the poem, Absalom embodies James Scott, the Duke of Monmouth and Buccleugh—and the illegitimate son of King Charles II. Like Absalom, James was ineligible for the throne but was also the focus of manipulation and plotting by factions who wished to see him succeed his father.

Achitophel

Achitophel is the villain of the poem. The speaker introduces him as “false Achitophel,” a man of “crooked counsels.” He is bold, restless, lacking in principles, seeking after conflict, and ambitious to an extreme. His “pigmy-body” encloses a “fiery soul,” and he longs for action, intrigue, and power. As Achitophel is not of royal blood, he has no claim to the throne, so he turns to Absalom as his puppet. If he cannot rule himself, he concludes, he must be satisfied to rule Israel through this easily manipulated young man.

Achitophel is also a master at reading people's moods and using them to his advantage. He stirs up their simmering discontent and places the popular Absalom before the Israelites, playing on the crowd's “jealousies and fears” and nudging them more and more toward rebellion. Achitophel’s goal, however, is not the well-being of Israel. Instead, it is his own self-promotion.

Allegorically, Achitophel embodies Anthony Ashley Cooper, the Earl of Shaftesbury, who promoted James Scott as the next heir to the throne and allegedly plotted against Charles II. Shaftesbury, like Achitophel, was a master at stirring up the people to promote his own agenda.

David

In the poem, King David is a good man and, overall, a good king. He is the chosen one of God, the anointed king, the rightful ruler, and even a “god-like” man. He has a history of wisdom and fairness but also has his faults. For one thing, David tends to be too liberal with his money, to the point of nearly exhausting his funds.

David also has a blind spot when it comes to Absalom. He loves his son and spoils him immensely, failing to notice even the most obvious of the young man’s flaws. This shortsightedness opens the door to Achitophel’s manipulation and allows Absalom to walk into rebellion. Within the poem’s allegory, David is the alter ego of King Charles II, who spent his life struggling against the plots of the Earl of Shaftesbury.

Corah

Within the poem, Corah is a thorough scoundrel but also a supporter (as much as Corah can support anyone beyond himself) of Achitophel and Absalom. He plots, perjures himself, and despises David so much that he will do anything to bring about his downfall. Within the allegory,...