FROM ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL
{ The Earl of Shaftsbury }
John Dryden
Dryden drown his names from a public reference “The Bible”
London = Israel . David = the name of the king . Achitophel = The Earl of Shaftsbury
- Political satire
It is a logical, reasonable satire Praising his good points as a human , Criticizing his bad points as a politician.
- Paraphrasing
1 - 2
Some people expelled from their post because of the bad work and being enemies of the state, hard hearted, aggressive, unfaithful. Although they were good and had a good record.
3 - 4
Those people who are giving the post by the mercy of the king. They become powerful because of the mercy of the king that they thought to be a clue indicates his weakness so they might work against him willing a higher place.
5 - 6
The king either because of fear of mercy had offered to those peoples the power to destroy him or working together against him. They form a group and this band is weak because everyone will think for himself and can easily broken.
7 - 8
Beginning of speaking in particular :
The name of all succeeding ages who are going to curse him and speak about him in a bad way because of his bad deals done against his state.
9 - 10
For the plots which he has made and because of being tricky person. This man is good only in making plots and meeting the evil persons, clever and smart person who follows the logical sense.
11 - 12
He is always thinking of how will he achieve his aims having no time of rest. Changing his beliefs, place or home is something ok according to the suitability of his aims. He is demanding more than power unsatisfied with his power. He hates the ungrateful persons and can’t endure other rebel.
13 - 14 - 15
He is busy physically and mentally to achieve his aim. He is giving his small body an excessive work without giving it any kind of rest. He may lead his body to destruction.
16 - 17 - 18
He is comparing A with the captain of the ship who will go to the sea although it’s stormy. Referring to his walking in the wrong way to achieve his aims.
Like the careless captain who go to the sea in the wrong time. He likes to go into the danger if he will get benefit. He likes the life which is full of danger.
19
He is ready to risk his life and the life of his nation for the sake of his own purpose and to show us how clever he is!
20
Too much cleverness may change into madness…
21
These kinds of people can easily separated into divisions, because of the base, which had come together, is wrong.
22 - 23 - 24
He makes a statement “if this man is not mad so why should he do this”.
Such a man should take this urgent rest. He makes this as a kind of punishment for his body.
25
Achitophel is greed for power and his life is meaningless. What is the value of power without living one’s life? He has no relations, feelings of the other pleasures of life. He simply rejects the peaceful life.
26 - 27
All the troubles are about securing a position for his little son, who is still young, can’t depend on himself.
28 - 29
His son is worthless who has some deformity. He is physically and mentally not suitable.
30 - 31
Achitophel has no real friendly relations because he is selfish and expert in hatred.
32
He has only one aim either to become the king or to destroy the person. He doesn’t care about the coast.
33 - 34
Achitophel is ready to do anything for the sake of his aims whatever it coast of destruction .he endangers his people when he cooperates with enemies of the state.
35
By doing this the price will be putting England under a foreign role, if he surrenders his nation for the sake of his aims.
36
He knows that but because he thinks only about power. He has some fear but it doesn’t affect his aim to become powerful and known
37 - 3 8 - 39
This person has done many mistakes through his life, but by reaching his aim, people will not dare saying anything against him and his crimes that he committed. Being a president will cover his sinful past
40
Those leaders commit crimes and throw them on others and blame them for.
41 ----- 46
But we have not to forget respecting his good deeds in the past as a judge, although we hate him as a politician.
He was the virtuous best judge in England court. We can’t find a better judge than him.
47
He was a clean-handed person against the bribe No one can put him under a pressure.
48
All the procedures of the court were done in the proper time and in the proper way. Beside, he used to listen to the others to order with justice.
49
I wished he remained as a judge. He wishes he satisfied his place to serve the nation “the King”.
50
He would have remained a virtuous person with the dignity of his clothes.
The rest
If Achitophel were a good servant for the king, the king would respect him. But by entering the politic field he lost this respect. He makes a kind of generalization by using the word “wild”. If they follow their desires they will forget about all virtues, because they will use dirty business to stick to their power by depending on the enemies of the state. They sacrifice their own virtues and lose their nation and human love.
Comment
The poet is talking about men in general which means that he doesn’t mean anyone in personal. There is no personal attack in his kind of satire. His appeal is to criticize the bad politicians in general. He shows the good and the bad aspects of Achitophel trying to shed the light on a common phenomenon.
THE STUDY OF THE POEM:
The poem is formed of a group of couplets, each one has a definite idea giving a special thought.
The language is not of a simple type, they are chosen one in a proper way spending a lot of efforts and putting them in a strong way to have a strong impression.
The rhyme scheme is Iambic pentameter.
F.O.S
Line 16 : Achitophel is compared with a captain of the ship. It is metaphor.
Line 19 : Achitophel is compared with a captain of the ship. It is metaphor.
Line 25 : Achitophel is compared with a useless person who lost his money. It is metaphor.
Line 27 : Achitophel's son is compared with a newly born bird. It is metaphor.
Line 36 : comparison between the way of getting power with killing someone to take his place. It is a personification.{ the use of the word Usurp }