Absalom and Achitophel
Absalom and Achitophel is an important historical political satire by John Dryden . The poem consists of two parts, the first of which, written in 1681, is undoubtedly by Dryden. The second part, which was written in 1682, was - apart from a few passages, including the attacks on the poets Thomas Shadwell and Elkanah Settle as Og and Doeg - written by another hand, probably by Nahum Tate .
The poem, an allegory , uses the story of the Absalom uprising against King David as a basis for a discussion of the background to the Monmouth Rebellion (1685), the Papist Conspiracy (1678) and the Exclusion Crisis .
The story of Absalom's revolt is told in 2 Samuel (chapters 14-18) of the Bible . Absalom rebels against his father, King David. Absalom captivates with his appearance, especially with a mighty head of hair, which is supposed to symbolize his arrogance ( 2 Sam 14.26 EU ). When David's renowned advisor Ahitofel (Achitophel in Vulgate ) joins Absalom's rebellion, another advisor, Hushai, conspires with David. Hushai became externally rogue and acted as a double agent. His advice to Absalom, however, played into the hands of David: Contrary to the recommendation of Ahitofel, who recognized the impending failure of the rebellion, returned home and hanged himself, Absalom followed Hushai's advice. Absalom was killed (despite an express order from David) after his long hair got caught in the branches of a large oak tree: "His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on "(2 Sam 18.9, quoted from the New Revised Standard Version ). The death of his son Absalom causes great personal grief for David. The title of William Faulkner's novel Absalom, Absalom! is taken from David's mourning ( 2 Sam 18.33 EU or 19.4 EU ).
In 1681 Charles II of England was at an advanced age. He had a number of mistresses and fathered a number of illegitimate children. One of them was James Scott , Duke of Monmouth, extremely popular for his personality and passion for the Protestant cause. Charles had no legitimate descendants and his brother, the future James II of England , was suspected of being a Catholic . As Charles' health deteriorated, the House of Commons panicked over the possibility of a nation ruled by a Roman Catholic king. The Earl of Shaftesbury had promoted and recommended the Exclusion Bill, but it was blocked twice by the House of Lords . In the spring of 1681 Shaftesbury appealed to Charles II in the Oxford Parliament to legitimize Monmouth. Monmouth was caught preparing for a rebellion and assumption of the throne, and Shaftsbury was suspected of promoting the rebellion. The poem was written, possibly at Karl's behest, and was published in early November 1681. On November 24, 1681, Shaftesbury was arrested and charged with treason . A trial before a jury chosen by the Whig judges acquitted him.
Later, after the death of his father and unwilling to let his uncle Jacob II become king, the Duke of Monmouth carried out his plans and rebelled. The Monmouth Rebellion was put down and the Duke was executed in 1685.
Dryden's poem tells the story of the first sedition by making Monmouth Absalom , the beloved boy. Karl becomes David (who was also notoriously unfaithful) and Shaftesbury becomes Achitophel. The text shows Buckingham , an old opponent of Dryden (see Dryden's play The Rehearsal ) as Zimri, the unfaithful servant. The poem puts the main blame for the rebellion on Shaftesbury and makes Karl a stubborn and lovable man who must be more king than father. The poem also refers to the revolt of the papist conspiracy .