Absalom and Achitophel:
In this blog, I am going to talk about the characters in the poem who are favoring King David (Charles II) and those who are against him.
Absalom and Achitophel FullAudio Book
Absalom and Achitophel is a widely celebrated satirical poem written by John Dryden, first published anonymously in November of 1681. It is written using the heroic couplet form and is considered one of the finest English political satires of all time. It is credited with being the first written satire in the English language and tells the Biblical story of Absalom, who rebels against King David. This, however, is commonly understood as an allegorical reading, and the events of the poem are actually about Dryden’s contemporaries, Charles II and the Exclusion Crisis. In writing the poem, Dryden hoped to rouse the populous against The Earl of Shaftesbury, along with the Whig Party. These groups had sponsored and advocated for this Exclusion Bill, which if successful, would prevent James II from succeeding to the throne. The bill was blocked by the House of Lords on two separate occasions. This was during the era of the Popish Plot, which took place during the years 1679 to 1681.
According to biblical tradition (and some say myth), David (c. 1035 - 970 BCE) was the second king in the ancient United Kingdom of Israel who helped establish the eternal throne of God. A former shepherd, David was renowned for his passion for God, his touching psalms and musical abilities, his inspiring courage and expertise in warfare, his good looks and illicit relationship with Bathsheba, and his ancestral connections to Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament. Born around 1000 BCE, David was the eighth son (and youngest) of Jesse, from the tribe of Judah. Like King Saul and King Solomon, David reigned for 40 years in one of the highest and most prosperous periods in Israel's history - called by many, “The Golden Age” of Israel. Although presented just as flawed or sinful as the kings who preceded and followed him, in Judaism and Christianity, King David is presented in various books of the Bible (from where most information originates on him, currently) as a model king of piety, repentance, and submission as well a forerunner to the Messiah—the Jewish "anointed one" and champion.
Make a list of characters who Favoured king David and those who were against him?
Character Study
Against king David:
- Absalom
- Achitophel
- Corah
- Shimei
- Zimri
- Jonas
- Balaam
- Nadab
Favour of King David:
- Barzillai
- Jotham
- Ameil
- Zadok
- Hushai
- Adriel
- Barzillai's Eldest son
Discuss in detail:
Against King David:
- Abslom:
David’s illegitimate son and the protagonist of “Absalom and Achitophel.” David does not have any legitimate heirs to the throne, but Absalom is his favourite child. Absalom is handsome and ambitious, and he has made himself a hero at war. The people of Israel love Absalom almost as much as David does, and Achitophel believes that the Jews would accept Absalom as their king. Achitophel begins to encourage Absalom and herald his birth and blood as royal, and he tries to convince Absalom to rebel against David. Absalom, however, is not a malicious man, and he doesn’t initially believe he has a right to the crown, but he is eventually worn down by Achitophel’s flattery and his own growing desire for more power. Absalom agrees to rebel against David, and as he travels to Israel in a procession with Achitophel, Absalom conforms to Achitophel’s deceitful ways. as an obedient son, he will never step against him. But gradually, the words of Achitophel start to haunt the young man’s mind. Finally, he agrees that King David shouldn’t be the King anymore.
That Absalom, ambitious of the crown,
Was made the lure to draw the people down;
That false Achitophel’s pernicious hate
Had turn’d the Plot to ruin church and state;
The council violent, the rabble worse,
That Shimei taught Jerusalem to curse. (923)
Achitophel seduces Absalom to commit “a pleasing rape upon the crown” and after that, the young man throws away all his morals and hesitations and is completely immersed in the vision of his power as a new King.
- Achitophel:
A deceitful counsellor to King David and the antagonist of “Absalom and Achitophel.” Of all the men who oppose David within the government, Achitophel is the most influential. He is smart, ambitious, and morally flexible. He pretends to be David’s friend, but in actuality, he either wants to rule Israel or completely destroy it. Achitophel stokes the “malcontents” of the Jews and incites anti-Jebusite hysteria in an attempt to ruin David, and then he encourages David’s son Absalom to rebel against him. Achitophel hates David’s brother, the heir presumptive, and he wants to make sure that he never ascends the throne. Achitophel begins his plan to ruin David by claiming David is a Jebusite, and while he knows that his argument is “weak,” he also knows the Jews fear the Jebusites, and his approach proves very effective. As Achitophel works on Absalom, Achitophel’s trusted men wreak havoc with the Sanhedrin and try to bring David down from inside the government. Achitophel finally convinces Absalom to rebel, and they embark on a procession through Israel to further ingratiate Absalom with the people and identify enemies to their cause. What comes of Achitophel is never revealed in Dryden’s poem, but historically speaking, Shaftesbury was tried for treason after encouraging Charles’s son the Duke of Monmouth, to rebel against the crown, but he was later acquitted.
- Corah:
The most important of Achitophel’s men. Corah is a priest, although he lies about his rabbinical degree, and he hatches the plot that helps Achitophel discredit David’s brother and ingratiate Absalom to the people of Israel. Corah’s memory is impeccable, and his account of the plot never once changes, which is why the Jews believe his fictitious plot. In the Bible, Corah leads a rebellion against Moses, and in Dryden’s poem, he represents Titus Oates, the Englishman who engineered the Popish Plot. Like Corah, Oates was a Puritan priest with a dubious rabbinical degree, and members of Parliament put stock into his unbelievable conspiracy because of his perfect memory and ability to tell and retell the plot without discrepancies.
- Shimei:
The most powerful of Achitophel’s men. Shimei is a dishonest crook who steals and cheats the Jews every chance he gets, but the Jews appoint him as their magistrate anyway.
- Zimri:
Zimri likely represents George Villiers, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, an English statesman and poet who had disgraced himself in war, organized an unsuccessful plot against the government and was accused of treason. He played an active role within the Popish Plot.
- Jonas:
Jonas is a prophet in the Bible, but in Dryden’s poem, he represents Sir William Jones, a member of Parliament who prosecuted many of the Catholics falsely accused in the Popish Plot and also supported the Exclusion Bill.
- Nadab:
In the Bible, Nadab disobeys God and is consumed by fire. In “Absalom and Achitophel,” he represents William, Lord Howard Erick, a Puritan preacher who supported the Exclusion Bill.
- Balaam:
Balaam is a prophet in the Bible, and in “Absalom and Achitophel” he represents Theophilus Hastings, a Member of Parliament and proponent of the Exclusion Bill.
Favour of King David:
- Barzillai:
David’s oldest and most trusted friend. Barzillai was with David when David was in exile after the death of Saul. He likely represents James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond, who was likewise in exile with Charles II after the execution of Charles I. Ormond returned to England with Charles after the Restoration and was his close friend and ally.
- Jotham:
One of David’s trusted men. According to the Bible, Jotham is the king of Judah and the grandson of Zadock, but in Dryden’s poem, he represents George Savile, the nephew of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, the man allegorized in the character Achitophel. Savile was a staunch supporter of Charles II, and he is credited with being instrumental in defeating the Exclusion Bill in Parliament.
- Ameil:
One of King David’s trusted and loyal men. Amiel is an important member of the Sanhedrin and helps to quell the uprising against David within the government. There are several Amiels in the Bible, so it is unclear which one Dryden is referring to here, but Amiel is thought to represent Edward Seymour, the speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament during Dryden’s time and a famous supporter of King Charles II and an opponent of the Exclusion Bill.
- Zadoc:
One of David’s trusted men. According to the Bible, Zadock is the High Priest of Israel, and in Dryden’s poem, he represents William Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, a supporter of Charles II.
- Hushai:
One of David’s loyal supporters. In the Bible, Hushai is David’s friend who agrees to spy on Absalom during his rebellion. Here, Hushai represents Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, who fought against the Exclusion Bill in Parliament.
- Adriel :
Another of David’s trusted men. In the Bible, Adriel is a nobleman in Israel and another of Barzillai’s sons. In “Absalom and Achitophel,” Adriel most likely represents John Sheffield, 3rd Earl of Mulgrave, who opposed Monmouth’s succession to the crown and supported James II.
- Barzillai's Eldest son:
The son of one of David’s trusted men, who has died and is forever mourned by the speaker of “Absalom and Achitophel.” Barzillai’s eldest son likely represents Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory. Butler was the son of the 1st Duke of Ormond, who is represented in Dryden’s Barzillai. The Earl of Ossory died in 1680, and Dryden dedicated his book of poems called Fables to him.
There are many different ways of understanding Dryden's poem Absalom and Achitophel. The most common reading compares "the connections between fatherhood and kingship".Through biblical allusions, Dryden connects ancient fatherhood with current events not only to show a precedent but also to show how it connects with a royal's responsibilities. Throughout the poem, the relationship of fatherhood and kingship is united.
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