John Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel: Political Motivation

What was the central political motivation behind Dryden's poem Absalom and Achitophel?

What was the relationship between Charles II and James, Duke of Monmouth?

What was the significance of Lucy Walter in relation to James, Duke of Monmouth?

Why was there a potential threat of revolution in England at the time Dryden wrote Absalom and Achitophel?

What was the significance of Charles II's marriage to Catherine of Braganza in relation to the succession dispute?

Which of the following statements about James, Duke of Monmouth, is true?

What biblical character did Dryden use to represent Anthony Ashley Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury?

Which character in the poem represented George Villiers, the duke of Buckingham?

Who did the character Cora represent in Dryden's allegorical poem?

Which biblical figure did Dryden use to represent King Louis XIV of France?

Who did the character Shimei represent in Dryden's allegorical poem?

Which character in the poem represented Edward Seymour, speaker of the House of Commons?

Historical Context

In 1681, John Dryden published "Absalom and Achitophel", a poem with a specific political motivation, during the threat of revolution in England.
The poem was written amidst the Exclusion Crisis, which aimed to exclude King Charles II's Catholic brother, James, from inheriting the throne.

Political Situation

The reigning King Charles II had no legitimate heir with his wife Catherine of Braganza.
Charles's bastard son, James, duke of Monmouth, was a contender for the throne, but his legitimacy was disputed.
Rumors circulated that Charles had secretly married James's mother, Lucy Walter, granting James legitimacy.

Literary Parallels

Dryden drew parallels between the English situation and ancient Israel under King David, as described in 2 Samuel.
Each main character in the poem corresponds to a real-life person in Dryden's time.

Character Correspondences

Absalom, David's bastard son, represented James, duke of Monmouth.
Achitophel, David's evil confidant, represented Anthony Ashley Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury, who introduced the Exclusion Bill.
Zimri represented George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, a longtime opponent of Charles.
Amiel represented Edward Seymour, speaker of the House of Commons.
Corah represented Titus Oates, who fabricated rumors about the Popish Plot.
Shimei represented Bethel, sheriff of London.
The pharaoh in line 281 represented King Louis XIV, ruler of France, an enemy of England.

Discover the specific political motivation behind John Dryden's publication of Absalom and Achitophel in 1681. Learn about the context of the poem during the threat of revolution in England and the political tensions surrounding the Popish plot and exclusion of James, duke of York.